自行車 / 自行车
zìxíngchē
The English word bicycle is expressed in Chinese as 自行車 / 自行车 (zìxíngchē). If unsure, use 自行車 / 自行车. Wiktionary also lists 腳踏車 / 脚踏车 (jiǎotàchē) and 單車 / 单车 (dānchē).
Meaning: vehicle (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 自行車 / 自行车 | zìxíngchē | |
| 腳踏車 / 脚踏车 | jiǎotàchē | Taiwan |
| 單車 / 单车 | dānchē | regional |
| 鐵馬 / 铁马 | tiěmǎ | Taiwan |
| 自由車 / 自由车 | zìyóuchē | Taiwan |
The terms are used to refer to a bicycle as a vehicle.
What does it mean word for word?
The default term 自行車 / 自行车 literally means 'self-moving vehicle', where the character 车 means vehicle. The term 腳踏車 / 脚踏车 literally means 'foot-pedal vehicle', using the character 脚 which means foot.
Which one should you use?
While 自行車 / 自行车 is the standard term, 腳踏車 / 脚踏车 is the standard term used in Taiwan. 單車 / 单车 is an informal way to say bicycle, while 鐵馬 / 铁马 and 自由車 / 自由车 are also variations found in Taiwan.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term 單車 / 单车 is more commonly used in Southern China and Taiwan. In Taiwan, you will also encounter the terms 腳踏車 / 脚踏车, 鐵馬 / 铁马 and 自由車 / 自由车.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
zìxíngchē
What mistakes should you avoid?
When you want to say 'to ride a bicycle', avoid using the full noun in a verb phrase like 騎自行車. Instead, use the more natural phrase 騎車 / 骑车.
Did you know?
- In mainland China, the bicycle was once so ubiquitous that it was known as the 'king of the road', and owning a brand-name bike was one of the 'three big things' a person needed for marriage.
- In Taiwan, enthusiasts often use the term 自由車 / 自由车 to specifically refer to high-end road bikes or racing bicycles.
- The character 車 / 车 is a pictograph that originally depicted a chariot with two wheels and a axle.
Examples in context
- 我昨天骑自行车去上班。I rode my bicycle to work yesterday.
- 我们一起租一辆单车吧！Let's rent a bicycle together!
- 我在北京买了一辆脚踏车。I bought a bicycle in Beijing.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bicycle” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
