noun HSK 4
Traditional 飛行員
pilot · aviator
Meaning
飞行员 refers to a person who operates an aircraft, whether commercial airliners, military jets, or private planes. The word literally breaks down as 'fly-travel-personnel,' clearly indicating someone whose profession involves flying.
Usage
This is the standard term for pilots in all contexts. It's used for both civilian and military pilots. In casual conversation, people might shorten it to 机师 (jī shī) in some regions, though 飞行员 remains the most common and formal term across Mainland China.
Examples
- 01他的梦想是成为一名飞行员。.His dream is to become a pilot.
- 02这位飞行员有二十年的飞行经验。.This pilot has twenty years of flying experience.
Characters
Measure words
- 名三名飞行员
- 位一位飞行员
Common collocations
- 民航飞行员civil aviation pilot
- 战斗机飞行员fighter pilot
- 当飞行员to be/become a pilot
- 飞行员执照pilot's license
Origin
This is a modern compound formed from 飞行 (to fly, aviation) + 员 (personnel suffix). The suffix 员 is commonly used to denote professional roles or members of a group.