qǐbùjià: 起步价 - Base Fare, Starting Price, Flagfall

• Keywords: qibujia, qǐbùjià, 起步价, Chinese taxi fare, base fare in Chinese, starting price, flagfall, taxi meter price, China travel cost, Didi fare, minimum charge Chinese
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 起步价 (qǐbùjià), which means “base fare” or “starting price.” This term is crucial for anyone taking a taxi or using a ride-sharing app in China. This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and provides practical example sentences to help you navigate transportation costs like a local.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): qǐbùjià
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: The minimum, fixed charge for a service, particularly a taxi ride, before additional fees for distance or time are applied.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine you get into a taxi in Beijing. The moment the driver starts the meter, it doesn't begin at zero. It instantly shows a price like 13 RMB. That initial amount, which covers the first few kilometers of your journey, is the 起步价 (qǐbùjià). It's the “price to get started.”

• 起 (qǐ): To start, to begin, to rise. Think of “starting” a race or an engine.
• 步 (bù): A step or a pace. It represents the initial part of a journey.
• 价 (jià): Price or cost. The left part (人) means 'person', suggesting value related to human activity.

When combined, 起步价 (qǐbùjià) literally means “starting-step-price,” a beautifully logical and transparent term for the base fare of a journey.

The concept of a base fare isn't unique to China, but the term 起步价 (qǐbùjià) is a cornerstone of daily urban life. In a country where taxis and ride-sharing services like Didi (滴滴) are ubiquitous, knowing this word is as fundamental as knowing how to say “hello.” Unlike the English “base fare” or “flagfall,” which are somewhat formal, 起步价 is used constantly in everyday conversation by everyone. It's often posted clearly on the passenger-side window of every official taxi. This price can also serve as a quick economic indicator; the 起步价 in Shanghai (around 16 RMB) is significantly higher than in a smaller Tier-3 city (perhaps 5-7 RMB), reflecting the different costs of living. Understanding this term moves you from being a tourist to someone who can navigate the city's logistics with confidence.

起步价 is a neutral, factual term used in formal and informal contexts.

• In Taxis and Ride-Sharing: This is its most common use. You'll use it when asking about fares, reading the fee schedule, or discussing the cost of a trip.
• Other Services: While less common, the concept can be extended. A delivery service might have a 起送价 (qǐsòngjià), or “base delivery fee.” A repairman might have a base call-out fee, which could also be described as a 起步价.

• Example 1:
  • 请问，这里的出租车起步价是多少钱？
  • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, zhèlǐ de chūzūchē qǐbùjià shì duōshǎo qián?
  • English: Excuse me, what is the taxi base fare here?
  • Analysis: This is the most important question you can learn. It's a polite and direct way to ask about the starting price.
• Example 2:
  • 北京的起步价是十三块，包含三公里。
  • Pinyin: Běijīng de qǐbùjià shì shísān kuài, bāohán sān gōnglǐ.
  • English: The base fare in Beijing is 13 RMB and includes the first three kilometers.
  • Analysis: A typical response you might hear from a driver or a local. It clarifies what the initial fee covers.
• Example 3:
  • 我的公司离家很近，打车一般超不过起步价。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de gōngsī lí jiā hěn jìn, dǎchē yībān chāo bú guò qǐbùjià.
  • English: My office is very close to home; taking a taxi usually doesn't exceed the base fare.
  • Analysis: This shows how 起步价 can be used as a benchmark for distance or cost on short trips.
• Example 4:
  • 这里的起步价太贵了，我们还是坐地铁吧。
  • Pinyin: Zhèlǐ de qǐbùjià tài guì le, wǒmen háishì zuò dìtiě ba.
  • English: The base fare here is too expensive, let's just take the subway instead.
  • Analysis: A common consideration when deciding on transportation.
• Example 5:
  • 师傅，我的路程很短，就在起步价范围内。
  • Pinyin: Shīfu, wǒ de lùchéng hěn duǎn, jiù zài qǐbùjià fànwéi nèi.
  • English: Driver, my journey is very short; it's within the range of the base fare.
  • Analysis: A useful phrase to let the driver know you're not going far. “师傅 (shīfu)” is a polite way to address a driver.
• Example 6:
  • 上海的起步价比我们老家的贵一倍。
  • Pinyin: Shànghǎi de qǐbùjià bǐ wǒmen lǎojiā de guì yī bèi.
  • English: The base fare in Shanghai is double that of my hometown.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the 比 (bǐ) structure for comparison, a very common grammar pattern.
• Example 7:
  • 从下个月起，出租车的起步价要上调两块钱。
  • Pinyin: Cóng xià ge yuè qǐ, chūzūchē de qǐbùjià yào shàngtiáo liǎng kuài qián.
  • English: Starting next month, the taxi base fare will be increased by two RMB.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates vocabulary related to price changes. 上调 (shàngtiáo) means “to adjust upwards.”
• Example 8:
  • 这个网约车平台的起步价比出租车便宜一点。
  • Pinyin: Zhège wǎngyuēchē píngtái de qǐbùjià bǐ chūzūchē piányi yīdiǎn.
  • English: This ride-sharing app's base fare is a little cheaper than a regular taxi's.
  • Analysis: Shows the term used in the context of modern ride-sharing apps (网约车, wǎngyuēchē).
• Example 9:
  • 总费用是起步价加上每公里的费用。
  • Pinyin: Zǒng fèiyòng shì qǐbùjià jiāshàng měi gōnglǐ de fèiyòng.
  • English: The total cost is the base fare plus the per-kilometer fee.
  • Analysis: This sentence clearly distinguishes the 起步价 from the other components of the final price.
• Example 10:
  • 夜间的起步价会高一些。
  • Pinyin: Yèjiān de qǐbùjià huì gāo yīxiē.
  • English: The base fare at night will be a bit higher.
  • Analysis: A crucial piece of practical information for travelers, as many cities have a higher surcharge for nighttime travel.

• Mistake: Confusing it with the total price.
  • 起步价 (qǐbùjià) is only the *starting* price. The final price you pay is the 车费 (chēfèi) or 总价 (zǒngjià). Don't be surprised when the final meter reading is higher than the base fare on a long trip.
• Mistake: Using it as a verb.
  • 起步价 is a noun. You cannot “base fare” something.
  • Incorrect: 我起步价了这辆车。(Wǒ qǐbùjià le zhè liàng chē.)
  • Correct: 这辆车的起步价是10块钱。(Zhè liàng chē de qǐbùjià shì 10 kuài qián.) - The base fare of this car is 10 RMB.

• 打车 (dǎchē) - To hail/take a taxi. The action that leads to paying a 起步价.
• 出租车 (chūzūchē) - Taxi; the most common vehicle with a 起步价.
• 车费 (chēfèi) - Car fare; the total cost of the ride, of which the 起步价 is the first component.
• 滴滴 (Dīdī) - The “Uber” of China. Didi rides also have a 起步价.
• 起送价 (qǐsòngjià) - Minimum price for delivery. A parallel concept for food/package delivery. The characters 送 (sòng - to deliver) replace 步 (bù - step).
• 跳表 (tiàobiǎo) - Lit. “jump meter.” The action of the taxi meter ticking up to a higher price after the initial distance is exceeded.
• 公里 (gōnglǐ) - Kilometer. The unit of distance used to calculate the fare beyond the 起步价.
• 总价 (zǒngjià) - Total price. A more general term for the final cost of anything, including a taxi ride.