开车
kāichē
To drive car in Chinese is 开车 (kāichē).
The phrase is used to describe the act of operating and controlling a motor vehicle to move it along a road. In Chinese, the object 'car' is often incorporated into the verb phrase itself, so you do not need to say 'drive a car' (开车) as a separate verb and noun if the context is clear.
What does it mean word for word?
The first character 开 literally means 'to open' or 'to operate', while the second character 车 literally means 'vehicle' or 'car'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, 開車 is a commonly used phrase.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the particle 着 after the verb results in the form 开着车, which describes the continuous state of driving a car.
How do you pronounce it?
kāichē
Did you know?
- In modern Chinese slang, 开车 can also mean to 'start' a discussion about highly provocative or sexually explicit topics. It is often used as a warning before someone shares 'NSFW' content online.
- While 开车 refers to the act of driving, the word 司机 (sījī) for 'driver' literally translates to 'machine master'. This reflects a historical view of the driver as the master of the mechanical device.
- The character 车 is originally a pictograph of a chariot. Even though it now means 'car', its ancient form depicts two wheels and an axle.
Examples in context
- 我学会了驾驶汽车。I learned how to drive a car.
- 他每天开车去上班。He drives to work every day.
- 请不要酒后驾车。Please don't drink and drive.
- 他的车技非常好。His driving skills are excellent.
- 他会开车。Tā huì kāichē.He can drive a car.
- 我每天开车去上班。Wǒ měitiān kāichē qù shàngbān.I drive to work every day.
- 现在开车很不方便。Xiànzài kāichē hěn bù fāngbiàn.Driving a car is very inconvenient right now.
Example conversation
Junjie is asking Jiayi if she can drive them to the restaurant.
- 俊杰 Junjie佳怡，你会开车吗？Jiāyí, nǐ huì kāichē ma?Jiayi, can you drive?
- 佳怡 Jiayi我会开车，但是我的车不在家。Wǒ huì kāichē, dànshì wǒ de chē bù zài jiā.I can drive, but my car is not at home.
- 俊杰 Junjie没关系，我们可以坐出租车。Méiguānxi, wǒmen kěyǐ zuò chūzūchē.It's okay, we can take a taxi.
- 佳怡 Jiayi好啊，那我们走吧。Hǎo a, nà wǒmen zǒu ba.Okay, let's go then.
