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| 交通 [2025/08/11 08:25] – created xiaoer | 交通 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== jiāotōng: 交通 - Traffic, Transportation, Communication ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** jiāotōng, 交通, traffic in Chinese, transportation in China, Chinese word for traffic, how to say transportation in Chinese, public transport China, jiāotōng meaning, Chinese infrastructure, getting around in China. | |
| * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese word **交通 (jiāotōng)**, which means traffic, transportation, and the overall system of getting around. This comprehensive guide covers its meaning, cultural significance in modern China's rapid development, and practical usage for everything from discussing daily commutes and traffic jams to understanding public transportation. Master **交通 (jiāotōng)** to navigate conversations about daily life in China like a pro. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** jiāo-tōng | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Noun | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 3 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** The system of transportation, traffic, or the movement of vehicles and people. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** **交通 (jiāotōng)** is the all-encompassing concept for how people and things move from one place to another. It's not just "traffic" in the sense of cars on a road, but the entire network—subways, buses, high-speed rail, and even the flow of communication in some contexts. Think of it as the "circulatory system" of a city or country. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **交 (jiāo):** This character's original pictograph might have depicted a person with crossed legs. Its core meaning is to **cross, intersect, exchange, or hand over**. It implies a meeting or joining point. | |
| * **通 (tōng):** This character means **to go through, to connect, to be open, or unimpeded**. It suggests a clear and open passage from one end to the other. | |
| * When combined, **交通 (jiāotōng)** literally means "intersecting and passing through." This perfectly captures the essence of a transportation system: a complex network of intersecting routes (交) that allows for clear passage and movement (通). | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| In modern China, **交通 (jiāotōng)** is more than just a word; it's a symbol of national progress and a central aspect of daily life. The country's massive investment in infrastructure—from the world's largest high-speed rail network to sprawling subway systems in dozens of cities—has made efficient **交通** a point of national pride. | |
| Unlike the English word "traffic," which often carries a negative connotation (e.g., "I'm stuck in traffic"), **交通 (jiāotōng)** is a neutral, systemic term. It refers to the entire network and its state. You can have good traffic (**交通很好**) or bad traffic (**交通很堵**), but the word itself is objective. This reflects a cultural focus on the system as a whole. While a Westerner might complain about "the traffic," a Chinese person might comment on the state of "the transportation system" (**交通**). This highlights a collective, infrastructure-focused perspective on mobility. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| **交通 (jiāotōng)** is a high-frequency word used in a wide range of situations, from casual conversation to formal announcements. | |
| * **Daily Conversation:** People use it constantly to talk about their commute, choose a meeting spot, or decide where to live. A common question when renting an apartment is "**这儿的交通方便吗？**" (Is the transportation here convenient?). | |
| * **Describing Conditions:** It's used to describe the flow of traffic. During rush hour, you'll often hear people complain "**交通太堵了！**" (The traffic is too jammed!). | |
| * **Formal Contexts:** You will see **交通** on road signs, in news reports about infrastructure, and in official names like **交通部 (Jiāotōng Bù)**, the Ministry of Transport, or **交通警察 (jiāotōng jǐngchá)**, traffic police. | |
| Its connotation is generally neutral and becomes positive or negative depending on the adjective used with it, such as **方便 (fāngbiàn)** for "convenient" or **堵塞 (dǔsè)** for "jammed." | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 今天路上的**交通**怎么样？ | |
| * Pinyin: Jīntiān lùshang de **jiāotōng** zěnmeyàng? | |
| * English: How is the traffic on the road today? | |
| * Analysis: A very common and practical question for checking commute conditions before heading out. | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 我选择住在这里，主要是因为**交通**方便。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒ xuǎnzé zhù zài zhèlǐ, zhǔyào shì yīnwèi **jiāotōng** fāngbiàn. | |
| * English: I chose to live here mainly because the transportation is convenient. | |
| * Analysis: This shows how **交通** is a key factor in major life decisions like housing. **交通方便 (jiāotōng fāngbiàn)** is a very common and important phrase. | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 高峰时间的**交通**简直是个噩梦。 | |
| * Pinyin: Gāofēng shíjiān de **jiāotōng** jiǎnzhí shì ge èmèng. | |
| * English: The traffic during rush hour is simply a nightmare. | |
| * Analysis: This example shows how to express strong negative feelings about traffic conditions. | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 请遵守**交通**规则，注意安全。 | |
| * Pinyin: Qǐng zūnshǒu **jiāotōng** guīzé, zhùyì ānquán. | |
| * English: Please obey the traffic rules and pay attention to safety. | |
| * Analysis: A formal sentence you might see on signs or hear in public service announcements. | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 这个城市大力发展公共**交通**，缓解了堵车问题。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhège chéngshì dàlì fāzhǎn gōnggòng **jiāotōng**, huǎnjiě le dǔchē wèntí. | |
| * English: This city vigorously developed public transportation, which has eased the problem of traffic jams. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence shows the compound noun **公共交通 (gōnggòng jiāotōng)**, meaning "public transportation." | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 发生了一起小的**交通事故**，所以路有点堵。 | |
| * Pinyin: Fāshēng le yì qǐ xiǎo de **jiāotōng shìgù**, suǒyǐ lù yǒudiǎn dǔ. | |
| * English: A small traffic accident occurred, so the road is a bit congested. | |
| * Analysis: Introduces the term **交通事故 (jiāotōng shìgù)**, which specifically means "traffic accident." | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * **交通**警察正在指挥车辆。 | |
| * Pinyin: **Jiāotōng** jǐngchá zhèngzài zhǐhuī chēliàng. | |
| * English: The traffic police are directing vehicles. | |
| * Analysis: Demonstrates the term for "traffic police," a common sight in busy Chinese cities. | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 飞机是最快的**交通**工具。 | |
| * Pinyin: Fēijī shì zuì kuài de **jiāotōng** gōngjù. | |
| * English: Airplanes are the fastest means of transportation. | |
| * Analysis: This introduces **交通工具 (jiāotōng gōngjù)**, the set phrase for "means/tools of transportation" or "vehicles." | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 这里的**交通**网络非常发达。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhèlǐ de **jiāotōng** wǎngluò fēicháng fādá. | |
| * English: The transportation network here is very developed. | |
| * Analysis: This highlights the systemic meaning of **交通**, referring to the entire "network." | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 为了改善**交通**，政府修建了新的地铁线。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wèile gǎishàn **jiāotōng**, zhèngfǔ xiūjiàn le xīn de dìtiě xiàn. | |
| * English: In order to improve transportation, the government built a new subway line. | |
| * Analysis: This shows **交通** used as a general concept that can be "improved" (改善 gǎishàn) through large-scale projects. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| * **System, Not a Single Car:** A common mistake for learners is to point at a car and call it "交通". **交通** refers to the system of traffic or the concept of transportation, not an individual vehicle. | |
| * **Incorrect:** //你看，一个红色的交通！// (Look, a red traffic!) | |
| * **Correct:** //你看，一辆红色的**车**！// (Nǐ kàn, yí liàng hóngsè de **chē**!) - Look, a red car! | |
| * **"Traffic" vs. "Traffic Jam":** In English, saying "the traffic is bad" often means "there's a traffic jam." In Chinese, while you can say **交通很差 (jiāotōng hěn chà)**, it's more common and specific to use the word for a jam: **堵车 (dǔchē)**. | |
| * **Okay but less common:** //这里的交通很糟糕。// (The transportation here is terrible.) | |
| * **More natural:** //这里**堵车**很严重。// (Zhèlǐ **dǔchē** hěn yánzhòng.) - The traffic jam here is serious. | |
| * **"Communication" Meaning is Rare:** While etymologically **交通** can mean "to connect" or "liaise," its usage for interpersonal or data communication is very rare in modern, everyday Mandarin. For "communication," you should use [[沟通]] (gōutōng) or [[通信]] (tōngxìn). Stick to the "transportation" meaning 99% of the time. | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[交通工具]] (jiāotōng gōngjù) - Means/tools of transportation; the specific vehicles (cars, buses, planes). | |
| * [[公共交通]] (gōnggòng jiāotōng) - Public transportation; a more specific category within the broader **交通** system. | |
| * [[堵车]] (dǔchē) - Traffic jam (colloquial and very common). This is a state of **交通**. | |
| * [[交通堵塞]] (jiāotōng dǔsè) - Traffic jam (more formal). | |
| * [[交通事故]] (jiāotōng shìgù) - Traffic accident. | |
| * [[交通警察]] (jiāotōng jǐngchá) - Traffic police (often shortened to **交警 jiāojǐng**). | |
| * [[运输]] (yùnshū) - To transport, transportation. This term is more focused on logistics, freight, and the commercial moving of goods, whereas **交通** is more about the general movement of people and vehicles. | |
| * [[出行]] (chūxíng) - To go out, to get around. A verb that describes the act of traveling, for which one relies on the **交通** system. | |
| * [[方便]] (fāngbiàn) - Convenient. An adjective very frequently paired with **交通**. | |
| * [[路线]] (lùxiàn) - Route, path (e.g., a bus route). A component of the **交通** network. | |