Chinese Driving Vocabulary: English-Chinese Glossary for Licenses, Tests and Traffic Rules
Last verified against sources: . Rules change, so please confirm with
your local vehicle administration office.
Official forms, test centers and police stations in China work in Chinese. If you can recognize a few dozen terms,
you will be able to follow what is happening, fill out forms and ask the right questions. This glossary uses the
wording of the official regulations. Pinyin is given so you can say the words aloud.
Offices and documents
Chinese
Pinyin
English
车辆管理所 / 车管所
chēliàng guǎnlǐ suǒ / chē guǎn suǒ
Vehicle administration office (VMO)
公安机关交通管理部门
gōng’ān jīguān jiāotōng guǎnlǐ bùmén
Traffic management department of the public security organ (traffic police)
交管12123
jiāoguǎn yāo èr yāo sān
Traffic Management 12123 (official app and hotline)
机动车驾驶证
jīdòngchē jiàshǐzhèng
Motor vehicle driver’s license
临时机动车驾驶许可
línshí jīdòngchē jiàshǐ xǔkě
Temporary driving permit
学习驾驶证明
xuéxí jiàshǐ zhèngmíng
Driving learning certificate
境外机动车驾驶证
jìngwài jīdòngchē jiàshǐzhèng
Foreign (overseas) driver’s license
身份证明
shēnfèn zhèngmíng
Proof of identity
护照
hùzhào
Passport
居留许可
jūliú xǔkě
Residence permit
外国人永久居留身份证
wàiguórén yǒngjiǔ jūliú shēnfènzhèng
Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card
住宿登记证明
zhùsù dēngjì zhèngmíng
Accommodation registration certificate
身体条件证明
shēntǐ tiáojiàn zhèngmíng
Physical condition (medical) certificate
翻译机构 / 公证
fānyì jīgòu / gōngzhèng
Translation agency / notarization
电子驾驶证
diànzǐ jiàshǐzhèng
Electronic driver’s license
Tests and procedures
Chinese
Pinyin
English
科目一
kēmù yī
Subject 1: road traffic laws and knowledge (written test)
科目二
kēmù èr
Subject 2: field driving skills
科目三
kēmù sān
Subject 3: road driving skills and safe and civilized driving knowledge
预约考试
yùyuē kǎoshì
Book an exam
补考
bǔkǎo
Retake
倒车入库
dàochē rùkù
Reverse parking into a bay
侧方停车
cèfāng tíngchē
Parallel parking
坡道定点停车和起步
pōdào dìngdiǎn tíngchē hé qǐbù
Stopping at a fixed point on a ramp and starting
曲线行驶
qūxiàn xíngshǐ
Curve driving
直角转弯
zhíjiǎo zhuǎnwān
Right-angle turn
安全文明驾驶常识
ānquán wénmíng jiàshǐ chángshí
Safe and civilized driving knowledge
领证宣誓仪式
lǐngzhèng xuānshì yíshì
License oath ceremony
实习期 / 实习标志
shíxíqī / shíxí biāozhì
Probation period / probation sign
审验
shěnyàn
License verification
换证 / 补证
huànzhèng / bǔzhèng
Replace (renew) / reissue a license
License classes
Chinese
Pinyin
English
准驾车型
zhǔnjià chēxíng
Permitted vehicle class
小型汽车
xiǎoxíng qìchē
Small car (C1)
小型自动挡汽车
xiǎoxíng zìdòngdǎng qìchē
Small automatic car (C2)
大型客车
dàxíng kèchē
Large bus
城市公交车
chéngshì gōngjiāochē
City bus
中型客车
zhōngxíng kèchē
Medium bus
大型货车
dàxíng huòchē
Large truck
重型牵引挂车
zhòngxíng qiānyǐn guàchē
Heavy tractor-trailer
轻型牵引挂车
qīngxíng qiānyǐn guàchē
Light trailer
普通二轮摩托车
pǔtōng èrlún mótuōchē
Ordinary two-wheeled motorcycle
轻便摩托车
qīngbiàn mótuōchē
Light moped
Traffic rules and signs
Chinese
Pinyin
English
红灯 / 黄灯 / 绿灯
hóngdēng / huángdēng / lǜdēng
Red / yellow / green light
闪光警告信号灯
shǎnguāng jǐnggào xìnhàodēng
Flashing yellow warning light
停止线
tíngzhǐ xiàn
Stop line
人行横道
rénxíng héngdào
Crosswalk
禁止标志 / 警告标志 / 指示标志 / 指路标志
jìnzhǐ / jǐnggào / zhǐshì / zhǐlù biāozhì
Prohibition / warning / mandatory (indication) / direction signs
道路交通标线
dàolù jiāotōng biāoxiàn
Road markings
限速
xiànsù
Speed limit
高速公路
gāosù gōnglù
Expressway
应急车道
yìngjí chēdào
Emergency lane
警告标志 / 三角警示牌
jǐnggào biāozhì / sānjiǎo jǐngshì pái
Warning sign / warning triangle
危险报警闪光灯
wēixiǎn bàojǐng shǎnguāngdēng
Hazard warning lights
雾灯 / 近光灯 / 远光灯
wùdēng / jìnguāngdēng / yuǎnguāngdēng
Fog lights / low beam / high beam
超车
chāochē
Overtake
掉头
diàotóu
U-turn
倒车
dàochē
Reverse
临时停车
línshí tíngchē
Temporary parking (stopping)
让行
ràngxíng
Give way
环形路口
huánxíng lùkǒu
Roundabout
Violations and penalties
Chinese
Pinyin
English
记分
jìfēn
Penalty points
记分周期
jìfēn zhōuqī
Scoring cycle (12 months)
扣留驾驶证
kòuliú jiàshǐzhèng
Hold (seize) the driver’s license
吊销
diàoxiāo
Revoke
注销
zhùxiāo
Cancel
罚款
fákuǎn
Fine
饮酒驾驶 / 醉酒驾驶
yǐnjiǔ jiàshǐ / zuìjiǔ jiàshǐ
Drink driving / drunk driving
交通事故
jiāotōng shìgù
Traffic accident
逃逸
táoyì
Fleeing the scene
事故认定书
shìgù rèndìng shū
Written accident determination
Useful phrases at the counter
Chinese
Pinyin
English
我想换领中国驾驶证。
Wǒ xiǎng huànlǐng Zhōngguó jiàshǐzhèng.
I would like to exchange for a Chinese driver’s license.
请问需要什么材料？
Qǐngwèn xūyào shénme cáiliào?
What documents do I need?
我需要预约吗？
Wǒ xūyào yùyuē ma?
Do I need an appointment?
这里可以考科目一吗？
Zhèlǐ kěyǐ kǎo kēmù yī ma?
Can I take Subject 1 here?
有英文考试吗？
Yǒu Yīngwén kǎoshì ma?
Is there an English-language test?
我的驾驶证丢了。
Wǒ de jiàshǐzhèng diū le.
I lost my driver’s license.
The phrases are original examples for learners, not official wording. Check with a native speaker when something
important depends on them.