公共汽車 / 公共汽车
gōnggòng qìchē
The English word "bus" can be translated into Chinese using several terms, most commonly 公共汽車 / 公共汽车 (gōnggòng qìchē). Wiktionary also lists 巴士 (bāshì) and 客車 / 客车 (kèchē).
Meaning: vehicle (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 公共汽車 / 公共汽车 | gōnggòng qìchē | |
| 巴士 | bāshì | |
| 客車 / 客车 | kèchē | |
| 公車 / 公车 | gōngchē | Taiwan |
| 公交車 / 公交车 | gōngjiāochē | Mainland China |
| 公交 | gōngjiāo | Mainland China |
| 公汽 | gōngqì | Mainland China |
In Mainland China, the shortened form 公交 is often used to refer to the bus system or public transit in general. While 公共汽車 / 公共汽车 refers to a public bus, 客車 / 客车 specifically emphasizes a vehicle for carrying passengers, often used for long-distance coaches or shuttle buses.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 巴士 (bāshì) is a phonetic loanword from the English word 'bus'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan, 公車 / 公车 is the standard way to say "bus". In parts of southern China, particularly in Guangdong Province, the word 巴士 is used more frequently compared to 公共汽車 / 公共汽车.
How do you pronounce it?
gōnggòng qìchē
Did you know?
- The term 巴士 traveled a circuitous route into Taiwanese Hakka and Hokkien, entering those languages via Japanese バス rather than directly from English.
- In Cantonese-speaking regions like Hong Kong, 巴士 is the dominant term, reflecting the city's history as a British colony.
- In many Chinese cities, you will see 公交 on signs and apps, but you will rarely hear people use the full term 公共汽車 in a casual conversation.
Examples in context
- 她赶上了巴士。She was in time for the bus.This sentence shows how to use 巴士 to describe catching a bus.Tatoeba #2031253 by ydcok, translation #311973 by CK
- 我害怕公交车。I'm afraid of the bus.This sentence illustrates the use of 公交 when expressing a feeling about the bus.Tatoeba #9970744 by GlossaMatik, translation #773139 by marloncori
- 乘巴士更省钱。It is cheaper to go by bus.This sentence demonstrates using 巴士 to discuss the cost of traveling by bus.Tatoeba #11254302 by asuliu, translation #35382 by Eldad
- 你坐什么车去上班？What vehicle do you take to work?
- 我坐公共汽车。I take the bus.
- 90 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bus” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 巴士, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
