gōngjiāochē: 公交车 - Public Bus, Bus

• Keywords: gongjiaoche, gōngjiāochē, 公交车, Chinese for bus, public bus in China, how to say bus in Chinese, taking the bus in China, public transport China, HSK 2 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn how to say “public bus” in Chinese with our complete guide to 公交车 (gōngjiāochē). This page breaks down the word's meaning, characters, and cultural significance. Discover practical phrases for taking the bus in China, a fundamental skill for any student or traveler, with 10 example sentences and clear explanations of common mistakes.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gōngjiāochē
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: A large motor vehicle that transports passengers along a fixed route for a fare; a public bus.
• In a Nutshell: 公交车 (gōngjiāochē) is the most common and standard word for a city bus in Mainland China. It's a literal, descriptive term that you will hear and use constantly in daily life. If you need to get around a Chinese city without a taxi, understanding and using this word is essential.

• 公 (gōng): This character means “public,” “shared,” or “common.” Think of other words like 公园 (gōngyuán - public park) or 公司 (gōngsī - public company/corporation). It signifies something available to everyone.
• 交 (jiāo): This character means “to intersect,” “to connect,” or “transport.” It's the key character in the word 交通 (jiāotōng - traffic, transportation). It implies movement and connection.
• 车 (chē): This character means “vehicle” or “car.” It's a pictograph, originally looking like a chariot viewed from above, showing the wheels and axle.
• How they combine: The characters literally translate to “public transport vehicle” (公共交通汽车 - gōnggòng jiāotōng qìchē is the full, formal name). 公交车 is the shortened, everyday version that perfectly captures the concept: a vehicle for public transportation.

In China, the 公交车 is more than just a mode of transport; it's a cornerstone of urban life and a shared public space. While American culture is largely built around the private car, Chinese urban planning has long relied on extensive and affordable public transportation networks, with the bus being the most foundational layer. For millions of people, from students to office workers to retirees, the bus is the primary means of getting around. This has a few cultural implications:

• Shared Experience: Riding a crowded bus during rush hour is a quintessential Chinese city experience. It's a place of close, anonymous contact with people from all walks of life, reflecting a more collectivist societal mindset compared to the individualism of driving a private car.
• Respect for Elders: It is a strong, unspoken rule to give up your seat to the elderly, pregnant women, or people with young children. Not doing so would be seen as very poor manners. You'll often hear automated messages on the bus reminding passengers to do this.
• Pace of Life: The expressions “赶公交车 (gǎn gōngjiāochē)” (to rush for the bus) and “等公交车 (děng gōngjiāochē)” (to wait for the bus) are part of the daily rhythm. The bus dictates the schedule for a significant portion of the population.
• Modernization: While once a cash-based system, virtually all city buses in China now use contactless payment. Locals swipe a transit card or, more commonly, use their phone's QR code from Alipay or WeChat Pay. This leapfrogging of technology is a hallmark of modern China.

公交车 is a neutral, everyday term used in all contexts. Here's how you'll encounter it:

• Taking the bus: The verb used is 坐 (zuò), which means “to sit” or “to ride in.” So, “to take the bus” is 坐公交车 (zuò gōngjiāochē).
• Identifying the route: Bus routes are identified by numbers. You would ask “Which bus should I take?” by saying “我应该坐几路公交车？(Wǒ yīnggāi zuò jǐ lù gōngjiāochē?)” where “路 (lù)” means “route.”
• At the bus stop: A bus stop is called a 公交车站 (gōngjiāochē zhàn). You wait for the bus (等公交车) at the bus stop.

• Example 1:
  • 我每天坐公交车去上班。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ měitiān zuò gōngjiāochē qù shàngbān.
  • English: I take the bus to work every day.
  • Analysis: A very common sentence structure for describing your daily commute. 坐 (zuò) is the key verb for riding vehicles.
• Example 2:
  • 去市中心，你应该坐10路公交车。
  • Pinyin: Qù shìzhōngxīn, nǐ yīnggāi zuò shí lù gōngjiāochē.
  • English: To go to the city center, you should take the number 10 bus.
  • Analysis: Shows how to specify a bus route. The structure is “[number]路 (lù) 公交车”.
• Example 3:
  • 对不起，这辆公交车不到那个公园。
  • Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, zhè liàng gōngjiāochē bú dào nàge gōngyuán.
  • English: Sorry, this bus doesn't go to that park.
  • Analysis: 辆 (liàng) is the measure word for vehicles like buses and cars.
• Example 4:
  • 我们错过了最后一班公交车！
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen cuòguò le zuìhòu yì bān gōngjiāochē!
  • English: We missed the last bus!
  • Analysis: 班 (bān) is a measure word for scheduled services like buses or trains, similar to “service” or “run” in English.
• Example 5:
  • 公交车上人太多了，我们等下一辆吧。
  • Pinyin: Gōngjiāochē shàng rén tài duō le, wǒmen děng xià yí liàng ba.
  • English: There are too many people on the bus, let's wait for the next one.
  • Analysis: 上 (shàng) is used here to mean “on” or “inside” the bus.
• Example 6:
  • 请问，最近的公交车站在哪里？
  • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, zuìjìn de gōngjiāochē zhàn zài nǎlǐ?
  • English: Excuse me, where is the nearest bus stop?
  • Analysis: A crucial sentence for any traveler. 公交车站 (gōngjiāochē zhàn) means “bus stop.”
• Example 7:
  • 你需要先坐地铁，然后换乘公交车。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào xiān zuò dìtiě, ránhòu huànchéng gōngjiāochē.
  • English: You need to take the subway first, and then transfer to a bus.
  • Analysis: 换乘 (huànchéng) is the specific verb for transferring between modes of transport.
• Example 8:
  • 在中国，坐公交车很便宜。
  • Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó, zuò gōngjiāochē hěn piányi.
  • English: In China, taking the bus is very cheap.
  • Analysis: A simple statement of fact that's useful for conversation.
• Example 9:
  • 快点儿！我们得去赶公交车！
  • Pinyin: Kuài diǎnr! Wǒmen děi qù gǎn gōngjiāochē!
  • English: Hurry up! We have to go catch the bus!
  • Analysis: 赶 (gǎn) means “to rush for” or “to catch.” It implies you are in a hurry and might miss it.
• Example 10:
  • 司机，下一站麻烦停一下，我要下车。谢谢！
  • Pinyin: Sījī, xià yí zhàn máfan tíng yíxià, wǒ yào xià chē. Xièxie!
  • English: Driver, please stop at the next stop, I need to get off. Thanks!
  • Analysis: While this sentence doesn't contain 公交车, it's a critical phrase used on a 公交车. 下车 (xià chē) means “to get off the vehicle.”

• 公交车 (gōngjiāochē) vs. 巴士 (bāshì): 巴士 (bāshì) is a loanword from the English “bus.” While people will understand you, it's used much less frequently in Mainland China for city buses. 公交车 is the standard, default term. You might hear 巴士 more in Hong Kong and Taiwan, or sometimes for private charter buses. Rule of thumb: When in Mainland China talking about a city bus, always use 公交车.
• 公交车 (gōngjiāochē) vs. 大巴 (dàbā): 大巴 (dàbā), literally “big bus,” almost always refers to a long-distance coach or tour bus, not a regular city bus. These are the comfortable buses that travel between cities. Don't use it to refer to the number 10 bus you take to the supermarket.
• Common Mistake (Verb Choice): A beginner might incorrectly say “我走公交车 (wǒ zǒu gōngjiāochē)” trying to translate “I go by bus.” The verb 走 (zǒu) means “to walk.” The correct verb for riding any vehicle you sit in (bus, car, train, plane) is 坐 (zuò).
  • Incorrect: 我走公交车去学校。
  • Correct: 我坐公交车去学校。 (Wǒ zuò gōngjiāochē qù xuéxiào.)

• 坐 (zuò) - To sit; the essential verb for “to take” or “to ride” a bus, train, or car.
• 公交车站 (gōngjiāochē zhàn) - Bus stop. A combination of “bus” and “station.”
• 地铁 (dìtiě) - Subway, metro. The other major form of urban public transport.
• 出租车 (chūzūchē) - Taxi. Literally “rent-out vehicle.”
• 交通 (jiāotōng) - Transportation, traffic. The general category that 公交车 belongs to.
• 路 (lù) - Road; also used to mean “route number” for buses (e.g., 5路 - Route 5).
• 上车 (shàng chē) - To get on a vehicle.
• 下车 (xià chē) - To get off a vehicle.
• 刷卡 (shuākǎ) - To swipe a card. The action of paying with a transit card.
• 司机 (sījī) - Driver. What you call the bus driver.