运输

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yùnshū: 运输 - Transportation, Transport, Shipping

Quick Summary

  • 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.
  • Example 3:
    • 我们需要运输一批医疗设备到灾区。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào yùnshū yī pī yīliáo shèbèi dào zāiqū.
    • English: We need to transport a batch of medical equipment to the disaster area.
    • Analysis: Here, 运输 is used as a verb, “to transport.” Note the large-scale, important nature of the task, which fits the word perfectly.
  • Example 4:
    • 铁路是运输煤炭的主要方式。
    • Pinyin: Tiělù shì yùnshū méitàn de zhǔyào fāngshì.
    • English: Railway is the main method for transporting coal.
    • Analysis: This sentence uses 运输 as a verb in a descriptive clause, explaining the purpose of the railway.
  • Example 5:
    • 请确保货物在运输过程中完好无损。
    • Pinyin: Qǐng quèbǎo huòwù zài yùnshū guòchéng zhōng wánhǎo wúsǔn.
    • English: Please ensure the goods are undamaged during the transportation process.
    • Analysis: The phrase “运输过程” (transportation process) is very common in shipping and insurance contexts.
  • Example 6:
    • 空运比海运运输速度快，但更贵。
    • Pinyin: Kōngyùn bǐ hǎiyùn yùnshū sùdù kuài, dàn gèng guì.
    • 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.
  • Example 7:
    • 这家港口每年处理数百万吨的运输。
    • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gǎngkǒu měinián chǔlǐ shù bǎi wàn dūn de yùnshū.
    • English: This port handles millions of tons of shipping (transport) every year.
    • Analysis: 运输 is used as a noun here to refer to the general activity of shipping or cargo movement.
  • Example 8:
    • 恶劣的天气影响了我们的运输计划。
    • Pinyin: Èliè de tiānqì yǐngxiǎngle wǒmen de yùnshū jìhuà.
    • English: The bad weather affected our transportation plan.
    • Analysis: A practical example of how external factors can impact logistics. “运输计划” (transportation plan) is a standard term.
  • Example 9:
    • 这条管道被用来运输天然气。
    • Pinyin: Zhè tiáo guǎndào bèi yònglái yùnshū tiānránqì.
    • 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.