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刹车 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
刹车shāchēto brake (when driving)HSK 6, n, rank #4749, Hard
刹车shāchēto stopHSK 6, n, rank #4749, Hard
刹车shāchēto switch offHSK 6, n, rank #4749, Hard
刹车shāchēto check (bad habits)HSK 6, n, rank #4749, Hard
刹车shāchēa brakeHSK 6, n, rank #4749, Hard
shāchē(sha1che1) T1
  1. 1to brake (when driving)
  2. 2to stop
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March 24, 2026
刹车(剎車)shāchē(sha1che1)

刹车 (shāchē) refers to the action of braking, primarily in a driving context. It can also mean to stop or check something, such as bad habits. The term is commonly used in discussions about vehicle operation and safety.

Frequency#4749DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In China, traffic safety is a significant concern, and knowing how to use 刹车 properly is essential for drivers. The rapid urbanization and increase in vehicles have made understanding road safety terms crucial.

Memory Tip

Think of 刹车 as a 'sharp' action (刹, shā) to 'stop' (车, chē) your vehicle. Imagine pressing the brake pedal firmly to avoid a sudden obstacle, making a 'sharp' sound as the tires screech to a halt.

Meanings of 刹车

shāchē(sha1che1)
1to brake (when driving)
2to stop
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 刹车

刹车Simplified
剎車Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#4749Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 刹车

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Podcast: 刹车

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AI Study Notes for 刹车

Quick Contrast

减速 (jiǎnsù) vs 刹车 (shāchē): use 刹车 when referring specifically to the action of braking, while 减速 is about reducing speed without necessarily stopping.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 刹车 as a 'sharp' action (刹, shā) to 'stop' (车, chē) your vehicle. Imagine pressing the brake pedal firmly to avoid a sudden obstacle, making a 'sharp' sound as the tires screech to a halt.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 刹车 with other terms for stopping, such as 停 (tíng). 刹车 is specifically for braking in vehicles, so use it primarily in that context. Be mindful of the tone; 'shā' should be high-level, while 'chē' is a low-level tone.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 刹车 connects with other transportation-related vocabulary. Students should focus on using it in practical driving scenarios and understanding its implications in discussions about traffic safety.

Cultural Note

In China, traffic safety is a significant concern, and knowing how to use 刹车 properly is essential for drivers. The rapid urbanization and increase in vehicles have made understanding road safety terms crucial.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 刹车 to mean 'stop' in a general sense, when it should be reserved for vehicle contexts. For example, saying '我想刹车这个活动' (I want to brake this activity) is incorrect; use 停 instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 刹车

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Component Characters

刹chàBuddhist monastery, temple or shrine (abbr. for 剎多羅, Sanskrit ksetra)
8 strokes刂
View full entry
车chēcar
HSK 14 strokes车
View full entry

Write 刹车

刹
车

Practice writing 刹车 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 刹车

刹车 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

我猛地一踩____，结果车子打滑了。

I slammed the brakes on and went into a skid.

Example Sentences for 刹车 (10)

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1
我猛地一踩刹车，结果车子打滑了。

wǒ měng dì yī cǎi chà chē， ， jié guǒ chē zǐ dǎ huá。

I slammed the brakes on and went into a skid.
2
某厂家由于疏忽，制造并销售了一款刹车系统存在缺陷的汽车。

mǒu chǎng jiā yóu yú shū hū， ， zhì zào bìng xiāo shòu le yī kuǎn chà chē xì tǒng cún zài quē xiàn de qì。

A manufacturer negligently made and marketed a car with defective brakes.
3
为避免相撞而刹车时，他听到了轮胎与地面刺耳的摩擦声。

wéi bì miǎn xiāng zhuàng ér chà chē shí， ， tā tīng dào le lún tāi yǔ dì miàn cì ěr de mó cā。

He heard tires squeal as the car braked to avoid a collision.
4
“路行者”汽车的性能、轮胎和刹车都更好。

“ “ lù háng” zhě ” qì chē de、 xìng néng 、 lún tāi hé chà chē。

The Roadrunner had better power, better tyres, and better brakes.
5
对于这种大小的车子来说,这刹车要算很好了.

duì yú zhè zhǒng dà xiǎo de chē zǐ lái shuō, , zhè chà chē yào suàn hěn hǎo.

For a car of this size the lock is excellent.
6
外面车行道上传来刺耳的刹车声。

wài miàn chē háng dào shàng chuán lái cì ěr de chà chē shēng。

There was a scream of brakes from the carriageway outside.
7
刹车踩得越用力，车子减速越猛。

chà chē cǎi dé yuè yòng lì， ， chē zǐ jiǎn sù yuè。

The harder the brake pedal is pressed, the greater the car's deceleration.
8
他点燃一支烟，轻踩刹车减速。

tā diǎn rán yī zhī yān， ， qīng cǎi chà chē jiǎn。

He lit a cigarette and braked the car slightly.
9
3,000多辆汽车因为刹车问题昨天被召回。

3,000 3,000 duō liàng qì chē yīn wéi chà chē wèn tí zuó tiān bèi zhào。

More than 3,000 cars were recalled yesterday because of a brake problem.
10
为何左刹车会让滑翔伞左转?

wéi hé zuǒ chà chē huì ràng huá xiáng sǎn zuǒ zhuǎn?

Why does an action left brake starts a left turn?

Cultural Notes for 刹车

🏮Cultural insight

In China, traffic safety is a significant concern, and knowing how to use 刹车 properly is essential for drivers. The rapid urbanization and increase in vehicles have made understanding road safety terms crucial.

Frequently Asked Questions about 刹车

You can say, '我需要刹车以避免碰撞' (I need to brake to avoid a collision).