Parts of the Car

Steering wheel: 方向盘 (fāng xiàng pán)

· This literally means "direction (方向) plate (盘)."

Rearview mirror: 后视镜 (hòu shì jìng)

· To say “side mirror” add 外 (wài, outside) to make 外后视镜. Think “outside rearview mirror” to help you remember.

Gear stick: 排档杆 (pái dàng gān)

Gas pedal: 油门 (yóu mén)

Brake pedal: 刹车 (shā chē)

· This word literally means "kill the car."

 Directions and Tasks

Start the car: 启动汽车 (qǐ dòng qì chē)

Shift gears: 换挡 (huàn dǎng)

Turn on the turn signal: 打转向灯 (dǎ zhuàn xiàng dēng)

Turn left/right: 往左/右转 (wǎng zuǒ/yòu zhuǎn)

Pull over: 停在路边 (tíng zài lù biān)

Park: 停车 (tíngchē)

· To say “parallel parking” add 平行(píngxíng, parallel) to make 平行停车.

U-turn: U 型转弯 (U xíng zhuǎnwān) or 掉头 (diàotóu)

· 掉头 means "to turn your head."

Miscellaneous

Intersection: 路口 (lùkǒu)

· 路口 is literally "road mouth."

Stop sign: 停车标志 (tíngchē biāozhì)

Traffic light: 红绿灯 (hónglǜdēng)

· This literally translates to "red green light."

Crosswalk: 人行横道 (rén xíng héng dào)

Pedestrians: 行人 (xíng rén)

One way street: 单行道 (dān xíng dào)

Blind spot: 盲点 (máng diǎn)

Let’s see this vocab in action. Below is an example dialogue between a driving instructor and a student.

Instructor: 一上车我们应该首先做什么？

(Yī shàng chē wǒ men yīng gāi shǒu xiān zuò shén me?)

What should we do first when we get in the car?

Student: 系安全带，调座椅、后视镜，然后启动汽车。

(Xì ān quán dài, diào zuò yǐ, hòu shì jìng, rán hòu qǐ dòng qì chē.)

Fasten the seat belt, adjust the seat and mirrors, and then start the car.

I: 对，你知道换挡前先要做什么吗？

(Duì, nǐ zhī dào huàn dǎng qián xiān yào zuò shén me ma?)

Yes, do you know what you first must do before changing gears?

S: 要首先踩下刹车同时才可以使用排挡杆来换挡。

(Yào shǒu xiān cǎi xià shā chē tóng shí cái kěyǐ shǐ yòng pái dǎng gān lái huàn dǎng.)

You must first press the brake pedal in order to use the gearshift to change gears.

I: 对，那我们出行吧！记得打转向灯，砖头看盲点，预转方向盘，慢慢踩下油门。到红绿灯往右转，然后一直直行。

(Duì, nà wǒmen chū xíng ba! Jìdé dǎ zhuàn xiàng dēng, zhuān tóu kàn máng diǎn, yù zhuǎn fāng xiàng pán, màn man cǎi xià yóumén. Dào hónglǜdēng wǎng yòu zhuǎn, ránhòu yīzhí zhíxíng.)

Yes, let’s head out. Remember to use the turn signal, look at your blind spot, pre-turn the wheel, and slowly accelerate. Turn right at the traffic light and keep straight.)

S: 好的。

(Hǎo de)

OK

I: 在前面你会遇到一个停车标志，在人行横道或停线后面停。为行人让路！

(Zài qián miàn nǐ huì yù dào yī gè tíng chē biāo zhì, zài rén xíng héng dào huò tíng xiàn hòu miàn tíng. Wèi xíng rén ràng lù!)

In front you will encounter a stop sign, stop behind the crosswalk or stop line. Make way for pedestrians!