verb HSK 4
to ride (in/on) · to take (a vehicle) · to travel by
Meaning
乘坐 is a formal verb meaning to ride in or on a vehicle as a passenger. It emphasizes the act of using a mode of transportation, whether it's a bus, train, plane, or other conveyance. This word is more formal than simply using 坐 alone and is commonly seen in written Chinese, announcements, and polite speech.
Usage
乘坐 is typically followed by the specific vehicle type (公交车, 火车, 飞机, etc.). It's more formal than the everyday 坐, so you'll hear it in official contexts like train station announcements or written travel instructions. In casual conversation, people often just say 坐 instead.
Examples
- 01我们乘坐高铁去北京吧。.Let's take the high-speed train to Beijing.
- 02乘坐飞机时请关闭手机。.Please turn off your phone when taking a flight.
Characters
Common collocations
- 乘坐公交车to take the bus
- 乘坐飞机to take a plane
- 乘坐地铁to take the subway
- 乘坐火车to take the train
Antonyms
Origin
The combination of 乘 (to ride/mount) and 坐 (to sit) creates a compound that emphasizes both the action of boarding and occupying a seat in a vehicle.