下
xià
The English phrase 'get off' is translated into Chinese as 下 (xià). If unsure, use 下. Wiktionary also lists 下車 / 下车 (xiàchē).
Meaning: (''ambitransitive'') to disembark from (verb)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 下 | xià |
| 下車 / 下车 | xiàchē |
The word is used to mean disembarking from something. It is also used in the compound 下班 to mean finishing one's work shift or 'getting off work'.
What does it mean word for word?
The character 下 literally means to descend or to go down, which forms the basis for the meaning of disembarking.
Which one should you use?
The term 下 can be used alone in certain contexts, but 下车 is the standard way to specify getting off a vehicle like a bus, car or train. While 下 means to get off, its opposite in the context of vehicles is 上, which means to get on.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, 'get off' is expressed as 落车 (lok6 ce1).
How does it change in a sentence?
While 下 can be used alone, use 下车 to specify the action of getting off a vehicle.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is xià.
Did you know?
- Beyond Chinese, the root of 下 is related to the Burmese word ကျ (kya), which also means 'to fall'.
Examples in context
- 我該在哪下車？Where do I get off?This example is useful for asking where to disembark using 下.Tatoeba #6559039 by xjjAstrus, translation #2860741 by CK
- 你一般几点下班？When do you usually get off work?This example shows how to use 下 in the context of finishing a work shift.Tatoeba #419800 by GlossaMatik, translation #419797 by CM
- 列车停下前别下车。Don't get off the train till it stops.This example uses 下车 to specify getting off a train.Tatoeba #5595104 by verdastelo9604, translation #279173 by CM
- 请下车 (qǐng xià chē)Please get off the vehicle
- 请下车，这是终点站了。 (qǐng xià chē, zhè shì zhōng diǎn zhàn le)Please get off, this is the last stop.
- 请离开火车，我们需要进行检查。 (qǐng lí kāi huǒ chē, wǒ men xū yào jìn xíng jiǎn chá)Please get off the train, we need to conduct an inspection.
- 下来一起玩吧！ (xià lái yī qǐ wán ba)Get off and join the fun!
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are riding a bus together.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen浩然，你到了嗎？Hàorán, nǐ dào le ma?Haoran, have you arrived?
- 浩然 Haoran快了，我準備下車了。Kuài le, wǒ zhǔnbèi xià chē le.Almost, I am about to get off the car.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen要在哪下？Yào zài nǎ xià?Where are you getting off?
- 浩然 Haoran就在這站下。Jiù zài zhè zhàn xià.I'm getting off at this station.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “get off” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 下, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
