Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 管道 | guǎndào |
| 管線 / 管线 | guǎnxiàn |
| 輸送管 / 输送管 |
The term refers to a conduit made of pipes. You can use specific variations to denote what is being transported, such as 输油管道 for an oil pipeline or 输气管道 for a gas pipeline. Additionally, if you want to describe the act of moving materials through such a system, the term for 'pipeline transportation' is 管道运输.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 管道 (guǎndào) is composed of 管 (guǎn), meaning 'pipe' or 'tube' and 道 (dào), meaning 'path' or 'way'.
Which one should you use?
While 管道 is the general term for a pipe or a system of pipes, 管线 (guǎnxiàn) often emphasizes the 'line' or the specific layout of the piping system, such as a pipeline network. If you want to emphasize the specific function of the pipe as a 'conveyance' or 'delivery' tool, use 输送管.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The form 管線 is the standard way to write this in Traditional Chinese characters, whereas the Simplified Chinese version is 管线.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
guǎndào
Did you know?
- The character 道 (dào) in 管道 means 'path'. This is the same character used for 'The Tao', the fundamental principle of the universe in Chinese philosophy.
- In Chinese, the concept of 'control' or 'governing' is linguistically tied to the word for 'pipe'. To say 'don't interfere' or 'mind your own business', one uses the verb 管 (guǎn).
- The character 管 originally depicted a bamboo container, which is why many different objects in Chinese are named after this shape.
Examples in context
- 我们需要修建一条新的输气管道来满足能源需求。We need to construct a new gas pipeline to meet the energy demand.
- 这座城市的供水管线非常先进。The water pipeline in this city is very advanced.
- 这根管道漏水了。Zhè gēn guǎndào lòushuǐ le.This pipeline is leaking.
- 工人正在修理地下管道。Gōngrén zhèngzài xiūlǐ dìxià guǎndào.Workers are repairing the underground pipeline.
- 我们需要更换旧的管道。Wǒmen xūyào gēnghuàn jiù de guǎndào.We need to replace the old pipeline.
Example conversation
A man and a woman are discussing a plumbing issue at home.
- 雨婷 Yuting浩然，你看这根管道有问题。Hàorán, nǐ kàn zhè gēn guǎndào yǒu wèntí.Haoran, look, there is a problem with this pipeline.
- 浩然 Haoran确实，它看起来快坏了。Quèshí, tā kàn qǐlái kuài huài le.Indeed, it looks like it is about to break.
- 雨婷 Yuting我们要不要找个修理工？Wǒmen yào bù yào zhǎo gè xiūlǐgōng?Should we find a repairman?
- 浩然 Haoran好，我马上打电话。Hǎo, wǒ mǎshàng dǎ diànhuà.Okay, I will call one right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pipeline” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
