Ride-hailing (Didi) in Chinese 网约车
wǎngyuēchē
Get a taxi in Chinese is 打车 (dǎ chē).
Also searched for as: Didi in Chinese, Uber in China, call a car, book a taxi, rideshare.
Tap, wait, ride: getting a car with Didi. 15 essential Ride-hailing (Didi) 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.
The usual way to get a ride in China is through 滴滴 (Dī dī), the best-known ride-hailing app, and the general word for a ride-hailing car is 网约车 (wǎng yuē chē), literally 'online-booked car'. Whether you call it 打车 (dǎ chē) or 叫车 (jiào chē), the process is the same: set your 目的地 (mù dì dì, destination), find the pick-up point and check the plate number. These words help you talk to the driver too.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 滴滴 | Dī dī | Didi (ride-hailing app) |
| 打车 | dǎ chē | to get a taxi |
| 叫车 | jiào chē | to call a car |
| 网约车 | wǎng yuē chē | ride-hailing car |
| 快车 | kuài chē | standard ride (Didi Express) |
| 拼车 | pīn chē | to share a ride; carpool |
| 上车点 | shàng chē diǎn | pick-up point |
| 车牌号 | chē pái hào | licence plate number |
| 尾号 | wěi hào | last digits (of a phone number) |
| 目的地 | mù dì dì | destination |
| 师傅 | shī fu | driver (polite way to address one) |
| 导航 | dǎo háng | navigation; satnav |
| 堵车 | dǔ chē | traffic jam; to be stuck in traffic |
| 取消订单 | qǔ xiāo dìng dān | to cancel the order |
| 靠边停 | kào biān tíng | to pull over |
Usage tips
- Address any driver as 师傅 (shī fu), which is polite and friendly; drivers often confirm a booking by asking for your 尾号 (wěi hào), the last four digits of your phone number.
- 打车 (dǎ chē) works for both hailing a taxi in the street and booking through an app; 网约车 (wǎng yuē chē) specifically means an app-booked car rather than a regular taxi, 出租车 (chū zū chē).
- To direct the driver, the most useful phrases are 前面靠边停 (qián miàn kào biān tíng), pull over up ahead, and 按导航走 (àn dǎo háng zǒu), follow the satnav.
Common mistakes
- Calling out 司机 (sī jī) to get the driver's attention → 司机 is fine when talking about them, but to address a driver directly say 师傅 (shī fu).
- Saying 我要坐一个车 for 'I'll get a car' → say 我叫个车 (wǒ jiào gè chē) or 我打个车 (wǒ dǎ gè chē).
Mini dialogue
- A这么晚了，我们打车回去吧。Zhè me wǎn le, wǒ men dǎ chē huí qù ba.It's so late, let's get a taxi back.
- B好，我用滴滴叫个快车。Hǎo, wǒ yòng Dī dī jiào gè kuài chē.OK, I'll get an Express on Didi.
- A上车点在哪儿？Shàng chē diǎn zài nǎr?Where's the pick-up point?
- B地铁站B口，司机三分钟到。Dì tiě zhàn B kǒu, sī jī sān fēn zhōng dào.Exit B of the metro station, the driver's three minutes away.
- A车牌号是多少？Chē pái hào shì duō shao?What's the plate number?
- B我看看……来了，就是那辆白车。Wǒ kàn kan…… Lái le, jiù shì nà liàng bái chē.Let me see... here it is, that white car.
Example sentences
- 我用滴滴叫个车。I'll get a car on Didi.
- 这么晚了，我们打车回去吧。It's so late, let's get a taxi back.
- 我已经叫车了，三分钟到。I've called a car, it'll be here in three minutes.
- 现在大家都坐网约车。Everyone uses ride-hailing cars these days.
- 叫个快车就行，便宜一点。Just get an Express, it's a bit cheaper.
- 拼车便宜，但是慢一点。Sharing a ride is cheaper but a bit slower.
- 上车点在地铁站B口。The pick-up point is at Exit B of the metro station.
- 司机的车牌号是多少？What's the driver's plate number?
- 你的手机尾号是多少？What are the last four digits of your phone number?
- 请确认一下目的地。Please confirm your destination.
- 师傅，前面路口停一下。Could you stop at the next junction, please?
- 师傅，按导航走就行。Just follow the satnav, thanks.
- 现在是下班高峰，肯定堵车。It's rush hour, there's bound to be traffic.
- 司机太远了，我取消订单了。The driver was too far away, so I cancelled.
- 师傅，前面靠边停吧。Pull over up ahead, please.
Practise speaking
Ready to use these words? The Ride-hailing (Didi) speaking island has 8 everyday questions about Ride-hailing (Didi) to prepare your own answers to.