速克達 / 速克达
sùkèdá
In Chinese, the English word 'scooter' can be expressed as 速克達 / 速克达 (sùkèdá) or 機車 / 机车.
Meaning: type of motorcycle or moped with a step-through frame (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 速克達 / 速克达 | sùkèdá |
| 機車 / 机车 | jīchē |
The word 'scooter' refers to a type of motorcycle or moped with a step-through frame.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 機車 / 机车 literally translates to 'machine vehicle'.
Which one should you use?
速克達 / 速克达 is a phonetic transliteration of the English word 'scooter'. In contrast, 機車 / 机车 is a more common and general term used to refer to any motorized two-wheeled vehicle, including both scooters and motorcycles.
Is it said differently in some regions?
機車 / 机车 is the standard way to refer to scooters and motorcycles in Taiwan and parts of Mainland China. However, in other parts of Mainland China, 摩托車 is also very common.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization for 速克達 / 速克达 is sùkèdá.
Did you know?
- The term 機車 / 机车 used for a scooter has a controversial linguistic history. It is believed to have evolved from a vulgar euphemism for female genitalia in the Hokkien language.
- In Taiwan, the term 機車 / 机车 is used as a slang adjective to describe someone who is acting stubborn, irritating or annoying.
- Mainland China uses the specific term 電瓶車 for electric scooters to distinguish them from gas-powered 摩托車.
Examples in context
- 他选择骑电动车上班，因为更环保。He chooses to ride an electric scooter to work because it's more environmentally friendly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “scooter” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 機車, 速克達, CC BY-SA 4.0.
