Taxi & Ride-Hailing in Chinese 打车
dǎchē
Take a taxi in Chinese is 打车 (dǎ chē).
Also searched for as: taxi, call a cab, didi, take a taxi.
Don't fancy driving yourself? 15 essential in a taxi words in Mandarin Chinese, with pinyin and English. Open it in the app to hear each word, tick off the ones you know and turn them into flashcards.
打车 (dǎ chē) means to take a taxi, and these words cover everything from hailing a 出租车 (chū zū chē) to booking a ride on an app. Taxi drivers are politely addressed as 师傅 (shī fu), 'master', and the phrase you'll use most is 在这儿停 (zài zhèr tíng), 'stop here', usually softened to 师傅，在这儿停就行 (shī fu, zài zhèr tíng jiù xíng).
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 出租车 | chū zū chē | taxi |
| 打车 | dǎ chē | to take a taxi |
| 叫车 | jiào chē | to call a car (via app) |
| 滴滴 | dī dī | DiDi (ride-hailing app) |
| 师傅 | shī fu | driver (polite address) |
| 上车 | shàng chē | to get in |
| 目的地 | mù dì dì | destination |
| 在这儿停 | zài zhèr tíng | stop here |
| 前面停 | qián miàn tíng | stop up ahead |
| 绕路 | rào lù | to take a detour |
| 打表 | dǎ biǎo | to use the meter |
| 车费 | chē fèi | fare |
| 后备箱 | hòu bèi xiāng | boot (of a car) |
| 系安全带 | jì ān quán dài | to fasten your seatbelt |
| 拼车 | pīn chē | to share a ride |
Usage tips
- Give your destination straight away with 去 (qù) and the place, as in 师傅，去机场 (shī fu, qù jī chǎng); it isn't rude, just efficient.
- 叫车 (jiào chē) means booking a car on an app, and 拼车 (pīn chē) is sharing a ride with others going the same way for a lower fare.
- In Taiwan a taxi is usually 计程车 (jì chéng chē), and in Singapore and Malaysia you'll hear 德士 (dé shì), from English 'taxi'.
Common mistakes
- Calling out 司机 (sī jī) to the driver; it's a job title, and 师傅 (shī fu) is the polite way to address them.
- Saying 停这儿 in English order; the place comes before the verb, so say 在这儿停 (zài zhèr tíng).
Mini dialogue
- A师傅，去火车站。Shī fu, qù huǒ chē zhàn.To the railway station, please.
- B好的，行李放后备箱吧。请系安全带。Hǎo de, xíng li fàng hòu bèi xiāng ba. Qǐng jì ān quán dài.Sure, put your luggage in the boot. Please fasten your seatbelt.
- A大概多少钱？Dà gài duō shao qián?Roughly how much will it be?
- B打表，大概五十块。Dǎ biǎo, dà gài wǔ shí kuài.It's on the meter, about fifty yuan.
- A好。师傅，前面路口停一下就行。Hǎo. Shī fu, qián miàn lù kǒu tíng yī xià jiù xíng.OK. Driver, just stop at the junction ahead, thanks.
Example sentences
- 我们打一辆出租车吧。Let's get a taxi.
- 下雨了，打车回家吧。It's raining, let's get a taxi home.
- 我用手机叫车。I'll book a car on my phone.
- 在中国大家用滴滴打车。In China everyone uses DiDi to get cabs.
- 师傅，去机场。Driver, to the airport please.
- 车来了，上车吧。The car's here, get in.
- 请输入你的目的地。Please enter your destination.
- 师傅，在这儿停就行。Driver, here's fine.
- 前面路口停一下。Stop at the junction ahead.
- 司机绕路了。The driver took a long way round.
- 师傅，请打表。Driver, please use the meter.
- 车费多少钱？How much is the fare?
- 行李放后备箱吧。Put the luggage in the boot.
- 请系安全带。Please fasten your seatbelt.
- 我们拼车去吧，便宜一点儿。Let's share a car, it's cheaper.
Practise speaking
Ready to use these words? The In a taxi speaking island has 8 everyday questions about in a taxi to prepare your own answers to.