Keywords: 运输, yunshu, Chinese for transport, transportation in China, shipping, logistics, freight, move goods, Chinese verb for transport, cargo transport.
Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 运输 (yùnshū), meaning transport or transportation. This guide explains how 运输 is used in the context of shipping goods, freight, and logistics in China. Discover the difference between 运输 (for goods) and 交通 (for people/traffic), and understand its cultural significance in China's massive infrastructure development. This page is perfect for beginners wanting to talk about moving goods and the logistics that power the modern world.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): yùnshū
Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
HSK Level: HSK 4
Concise Definition: To transport, carry, or convey goods; the act or system of transportation (primarily for cargo).
In a Nutshell: 运输 (yùnshū) is the word for the large-scale, systematic movement of things, not people. Think of it as logistics, freight, and shipping. It evokes images of container ships, cargo planes, and freight trains moving goods across vast distances. While it can be a noun (“transportation”), it's often used as a verb (“to transport”). It has a formal and industrial feel, distinct from simply moving an object by hand.
Character Breakdown
运 (yùn): This character's core meaning is “to move,” “to transport,” or “to revolve.” It's made of 辶 (chuò), the “walk” radical, suggesting movement, and 云 (yún), meaning “cloud.” You can remember it as things moving like clouds across the sky.
输 (shū): This character means “to transport” or “to lose.” For this word, focus on “to transport.” It contains the radical 车 (chē), meaning “car” or “vehicle.” This clearly links the character's meaning to transportation by a vehicle.
Together, 运输 (yùnshū) combines “to move” (运) with “to transport by vehicle” (输), creating a powerful and specific term for organized, mechanical transportation of goods.
Cultural Context and Significance
The Engine of an Economy: In modern China, 运输 is not just a word; it's a pillar of national strategy and economic power. The government has poured immense resources into creating one of the world's most advanced transportation networks, including high-speed rail, massive ports, and extensive highways. This focus on 运输 is central to China's identity as the “world's factory” and its global ambitions, like the Belt and Road Initiative (一带一路).
Comparison to “Transportation”: In English, “transportation” can refer to both moving goods and people (“My transportation to work is the bus”). This is a critical difference. 运输 (yùnshū) is almost exclusively for goods and cargo. The general concept of “transport systems” or “traffic” for people is called 交通 (jiāotōng). This distinction reflects a practical focus in the language: 运输 is about the economy and logistics, while 交通 is about daily life and public mobility. Understanding this difference is key to sounding natural in Chinese.
Related Values: The concept of 运输 ties into the Chinese societal value of long-term planning, collective effort, and national development. The impressive infrastructure is a source of national pride and a visible symbol of the country's progress.
Practical Usage in Modern China
Business and Logistics: This is the most common context. You'll see 运输 used constantly in business documents, by shipping companies (运输公司), and in discussions about supply chains (供应链) and logistics (物流).
Online Shopping: While the more specific term 快递 (kuàidì - express delivery) is used for your Taobao packages, 运输 describes the underlying process of moving those packages from the warehouse to the distribution center.
News and Formal Contexts: News reports on infrastructure projects, economic activity, and international trade will frequently use 运输. It is a standard, formal term.
Connotation: 运输 is a neutral, functional term. It doesn't carry a particularly positive or negative feeling; it simply describes the process of moving goods.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
我们公司提供国际运输服务。
Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī tígōng guójì yùnshū fúwù.
English: Our company provides international transportation services.
Analysis: Here, 运输 is used as part of a compound noun, “运输服务” (transportation services), a very common business phrase.
Example 2:
这些货物的运输成本太高了。
Pinyin: Zhèxiē huòwù de yùnshū chéngběn tài gāo le.
English: The transportation cost for these goods is too high.
Analysis: 运输 is used as a noun to mean “transportation” or “shipping.” This is a typical sentence you might hear in a business or logistics meeting.
English: Air freight's transport speed is faster than sea freight's, but it's more expensive.
Analysis: This shows how 运输 can be used to compare different modes of freight transport. Note: a native speaker might simplify this to “空运比海运快,” but this sentence is grammatically correct and clear.
English: This pipeline is used to transport natural gas.
Analysis: Shows that 运输 isn't limited to solid goods in boxes; it can also be used for liquids and gases moved through industrial means.
Example 10:
物流公司负责货物的仓储和运输。
Pinyin: Wùliú gōngsī fùzé huòwù de cāngchǔ hé yùnshū.
English: The logistics company is responsible for the warehousing and transportation of goods.
Analysis: This sentence clearly places 运输 within the broader field of 物流 (logistics).
Nuances and Common Mistakes
运输 (yùnshū) vs. 交通 (jiāotōng): This is the most common point of confusion.
Use 运输 for: Goods, cargo, freight, raw materials, logistics. (Things)
Use 交通 for: Traffic, public transit systems, how people get around. (People & Systems)
Incorrect: ~~我今天的运输是坐地铁。~~ (My transport today is taking the subway.)
Correct: 我今天的交通工具是地铁。 (My means of transport today is the subway.) OR 我今天坐地铁上班。(I take the subway to work today.)
运输 (yùnshū) vs. 搬 (bān):
Use 运输 for: Large-scale, long-distance, systematic transport using vehicles.
Use 搬 for: Moving specific objects, usually over short distances or by hand. The classic example is 搬家 (bānjiā) - moving house.
Incorrect: ~~我需要运输这个箱子到楼上。~~ (I need to transport this box upstairs.) This sounds overly formal and industrial, as if you're calling a logistics company to move a single box.
Correct: 我需要把这个箱子搬到楼上。(I need to move this box upstairs.)
Related Terms and Concepts
交通 (jiāotōng) - Traffic; the system of transportation for people and vehicles. The people-focused counterpart to 运输.
物流 (wùliú) - Logistics. A broader, more modern business term that includes 运输, warehousing, and supply chain management.
货运 (huòyùn) - Freight transport; cargo shipping. A more specific term that is a major type of 运输.
客运 (kèyùn) - Passenger transport. The direct opposite of 货运 (huòyùn), dealing with moving people.
快递 (kuàidì) - Express delivery; courier. This is the specific service for sending packages and documents quickly.
运费 (yùnfèi) - Shipping fee; freight cost. The cost associated with 运输.
搬家 (bānjiā) - To move house. The personal act of moving one's belongings to a new home.
交通工具 (jiāotōng gōngjù) - Means of transport; vehicle. Refers to the actual car, bus, train, or plane you use.