Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 交通阻塞 | jiāotōng zǔsè |
| 塞車 / 塞车 | sāichē |
| 堵車 / 堵车 | dǔchē |
The term refers to a situation in which all road traffic is stationary or very slow.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 塞車 is composed of the verb 塞 (to stuff/block) and the noun 車 (car). The term 堵車 is composed of the verb 堵 (to block/clog) and the noun 車 (car).
Which one should you use?
塞車 is the more common term used in Taiwan to describe a traffic jam.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
交通阻塞 is a formal, technical term used in news reports or official traffic announcements, whereas 塞車 and 堵車 are used in daily conversation.
Is it said differently in some regions?
塞车 is an informal way to say traffic jam most commonly used in southern areas of China, especially in Guangdong province and Hong Kong.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the particle 了 to 塞車 or 堵車 indicates a change in state, often used to say 'traffic is jammed now' or 'I am stuck in traffic'.
How do you pronounce it?
jiāotōng zǔsè
Did you know?
- Chinese speakers sometimes use the phrase 堵死 to describe a traffic jam, which literally means 'blocked to death'.
- While 塞車 and 堵車 describe the jam, the term 堵心 describes a 'jammed heart', which means feeling suffocated by grief or frustration.
- In some contexts, the word 塞 can mean 'to give' or 'to bribe' someone secretly, which is a completely different usage than 'blocking' traffic.
Examples in context
- 今天堵车真糟糕。The traffic jam is terrible today.
Example conversation
Jiayi and Haoran are talking on the phone about a meeting.
- 佳怡 Jiayi浩然，你快到了吗？Hàorán, nǐ kuài dào le ma?Haoran, are you arriving soon?
- 浩然 Haoran路上有交通阻塞，我还在等。Lùshàng yǒu jiāotōng zǔsè, wǒ hái zài děng.There is a traffic jam on the road, I am still waiting.
- 佳怡 Jiayi没关系，慢慢来。Méiguānxì, mànman lái.It's okay, take your time.
- 浩然 Haoran谢谢佳怡，我尽快赶到。Xièxiè Jiāyí, wǒ jǐnkuài gǎndào.Thanks Jiayi, I'll get there as soon as possible.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “traffic jam” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
