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乘客 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
乘客chéngkèpassengerHSK 4, unknown, rank #3436, Hard
chéngkè(cheng2ke4) T2
  1. 1passenger
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March 24, 2026
乘客()chéngkè(cheng2ke4)

The term 乘客 (chéngkè) refers to a passenger, typically someone who is traveling in a vehicle such as a bus, train, or airplane. It is commonly used in contexts related to transportation and travel, highlighting the role of individuals who are not operating the vehicle but rather utilizing its service.

Frequency#3436DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the experience of being a passenger can be significant, especially during major travel seasons like the Spring Festival when millions of people become '乘客' as they return home. This highlights the importance of family and reunion in Chinese society.

Memory Tip

Think of 乘 (chéng) as 'to ride' and 客 (kè) as 'guest.' Together, they depict the image of a guest who rides in a vehicle. Visualize a friendly guest entering a train, eager for their journey, which will help you remember the pronunciation and meaning.

Meanings of 乘客

chéngkè(cheng2ke4)
1passenger
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About 乘客

乘客Simplified
Traditional
Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 乘客

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Podcast: 乘客

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AI Study Notes for 乘客

Quick Contrast

旅客 (lǚkè) - use 乘客 when emphasizing someone who is using a vehicle for transport; use 旅客 when referring to someone traveling, especially over longer distances or in a tourism context.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 乘 (chéng) as 'to ride' and 客 (kè) as 'guest.' Together, they depict the image of a guest who rides in a vehicle. Visualize a friendly guest entering a train, eager for their journey, which will help you remember the pronunciation and meaning.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tones; mispronouncing 乘 (chéng) can lead to confusion with its other meanings. This term is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings. Common collocations include '乘客人数' (number of passengers) and '乘客服务' (passenger services).

HSK Study Tips

While 乘客 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects well with transportation-related terms like '车' (chē - vehicle) and '票' (piào - ticket) that may appear in HSK levels 2 and 3. Focus on understanding how this term is used in travel conversations.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the experience of being a passenger can be significant, especially during major travel seasons like the Spring Festival when millions of people become '乘客' as they return home. This highlights the importance of family and reunion in Chinese society.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 乘客 with 客户 (kèhù), which means 'client' or 'customer.' Remember, 乘客 specifically relates to passengers in transport settings. A wrong example would be saying '我是一位客户在火车上' (I am a client on the train), which should be '我是一位乘客在火车上.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 乘客

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Component Characters

chéngto ride
HSK 410 strokes丿
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customer
HSK 19 strokes
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Write 乘客

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Cultural Notes for 乘客

💡Did you know?

In Chinese culture, the concept of a '乘客' (passenger) is important in transportation systems. The efficiency of public transport, like trains and buses, is a point of pride, and passengers are often seen as guests deserving respect and service.

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the experience of being a passenger can be significant, especially during major travel seasons like the Spring Festival when millions of people become '乘客' as they return home. This highlights the importance of family and reunion in Chinese society.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In many cultures, passengers are expected to behave in a certain way while using public transport. In China, it is common for passengers to offer their seats to the elderly or pregnant women, highlighting social respect and responsibility.

Frequently Asked Questions about 乘客

Yes, 乘客 is a formal term used in transportation settings. It's widely accepted in both written and spoken Chinese when referring to individuals who are traveling.