摩托車 / 摩托车
mótuōchē
The Chinese word for motorcycle is 摩托車 / 摩托车 (mótuōchē). Wiktionary also lists 摩托 (mótuō) and 電單車 / 电单车 (diàndānchē).
Meaning: open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars instead of a steering wheel (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 摩托車 / 摩托车 | mótuōchē | |
| 摩托 | mótuō | |
| 電單車 / 电单车 | diàndānchē | |
| 機車 / 机车 | jīchē | Taiwan |
| 機器腳踏車 / 机器脚踏车 | jīqì jiǎotàchē | Taiwan |
A motorcycle is an open-seated motor vehicle with handlebars. The word 摩托 (mótuō) is a phonetic loanword used to represent the sound of the English word 'motor'.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 摩托 (mótuō) is a phonetic transcription of the English word 'motor'.
Which one should you use?
While 摩托車 / 摩托车 is the full formal noun, in casual spoken Chinese, people often shorten it to just 摩托 (mótuō).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan, the term 機車 / 机车 (jīchē) is the standard and most common way to refer to a motorcycle. The term 機器腳踏車 / 机器脚踏车 (jīqì jiǎotàchē) is also used in Taiwan.
How does it change in a sentence?
When saying you ride a motorcycle, use the verb 騎 (qí) rather than 駕駛 (jiàshǐ) or 開 (kāi), which are used for cars.
How do you pronounce it?
mótuōchē
Did you know?
- The Taiwanese term 機車 / 机车 (jīchē) is also used as a slang adjective to describe a person who is being difficult, annoying or unreasonable.
- The common term in Taiwan, 機車 / 机车 (jīchē), is a linguistic oddity. It is actually a softened euphemism for a vulgar Hokkien profanity, making its daily use quite ironic to those aware of its origins.
- The term 電單車 / 电单车 (diàndānchē) is frequently used in Cantonese-speaking regions like Hong Kong to refer to a motorcycle.
Examples in context
- 湯姆騎摩托車上班。Tom goes to work by motorcycle.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use the shortened form 摩托 with the verb to ride.Tatoeba #6145404 by verdastelo9604, translation #1025669 by CK
- 我的摩托車是新的。My motorcycle is new.This sentence shows the use of the shortened form 摩托 with a possessive.Tatoeba #9524558 by xjjAstrus, translation #5023357 by CarpeLanam
- 梅納德有摩托車駕照。Mennad has a motorcycle license.This sentence demonstrates the use of the shortened form 摩托 in the context of a driver's license.Tatoeba #13956880 by LeviHighway, translation #8052931 by OsoHombre
- 我想买一辆新摩托车。I want to buy a new motorcycle.
- 他骑着摩托车穿越城市。He rides a motorcycle through the city.
- 这辆机车加速很快。This motorcycle accelerates quickly.
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “motorcycle” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 摩托, 機車, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
