The characters combine logically: 公交 (gōngjiāo) is a common abbreviation for “public transportation.” Adding 车 (chē) creates 公交车 (gōngjiāochē), a “public transportation vehicle,” or bus. Finally, adding 站 (zhàn) gives you 公交车站 (gōngjiāochēzhàn), the “station for the public transportation vehicle”—a bus stop.
While “bus stop” might seem like a simple utilitarian concept, its role in China is magnified by the scale and density of its cities. For tens of millions of Chinese people, the bus is not an alternative form of transport; it is the primary one. Unlike many Western cities where bus systems may be seen as a last resort, in China, they are a vital, sprawling, and incredibly efficient network connecting every corner of a metropolis. They are the circulatory system for students, office workers, retirees, and migrant laborers alike. A key difference from the typical American experience is the sheer density of the network. In a major Chinese city, you are rarely more than a 5-10 minute walk from a 公交车站. The system's integration with modern technology is also notable. While queuing etiquette can vary, payment is almost universally handled via QR codes through apps like Alipay (支付宝) or WeChat Pay (微信支付), making the fumbling for change a thing of the past. The bus stop is a microcosm of modern China: a place of constant motion, shared public space, and rapid technological adoption.
The term 公交车站 is used constantly in everyday life.
The term is neutral and has no special connotations. It's used in both formal and informal situations. For a very large bus terminal where many routes begin and end, you might hear the more specific term 公交总站 (gōngjiāo zǒngzhàn), but 公交车站 is universally understood.