How to say “taxi” in Chinese
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Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Word by word
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Three first tones in a row: hold all three high and level, which is harder than it sounds. In speech people say 打车 (dǎchē, 'hail a car') for taking a taxi; in Hong Kong and the south you'll hear 的士 (dīshì), and in Taiwan 计程车 (jìchéngchē).
In a sentence
Wǒ zài nǎlǐ néng dǎdào chūzūchē?
Where can I get a taxi?
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How do you say "taxi" in Chinese?+
"taxi" in Mandarin Chinese is 出租车, pronounced chūzūchē. Three first tones in a row: hold all three high and level, which is harder than it sounds. In speech people say 打车 (dǎchē, 'hail a car') for taking a taxi; in Hong Kong and the south you'll hear 的士 (dīshì), and in Taiwan 计程车 (jìchéngchē).
What does 出租车 mean literally?+
出租车 breaks down as 出租 (chūzū) = to rent out, 车 (chē) = vehicle. Together it means "taxi".
How do I get the tones right in chūzūchē?+
Three first tones in a row: hold all three high and level, which is harder than it sounds. In speech people say 打车 (dǎchē, 'hail a car') for taking a taxi; in Hong Kong and the south you'll hear 的士 (dīshì), and in Taiwan 计程车 (jìchéngchē).
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