High-speed rail in Chinese 高铁
gāotiě
High-speed rail in Chinese is 高铁 (gāo tiě).
Also searched for as: bullet train in Chinese, high speed train, China railway, train tickets in China, 12306.
Across China at over 300 kilometres an hour. 15 essential high-speed rail words in Mandarin Chinese, with pinyin and English. Open it in the app to hear each word, tick off the ones you know and turn them into flashcards.
The word for high-speed rail in Chinese is 高铁 (gāo tiě), short for 高速铁路 (gāo sù tiě lù), and China has the world's largest high-speed network. Travelling by train involves its own vocabulary, from booking a 二等座 (èr děng zuò, second-class seat) to finding your 检票口 (jiǎn piào kǒu, ticket gate) and 车厢 (chē xiāng, carriage). Around big holidays, you may also need to 抢票 (qiǎng piào), scramble for tickets.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 高铁 | gāo tiě | high-speed rail; bullet train |
| 动车 | dòng chē | D-train (slightly slower bullet train) |
| 车票 | chē piào | train ticket |
| 抢票 | qiǎng piào | to scramble for tickets |
| 二等座 | èr děng zuò | second-class seat |
| 一等座 | yī děng zuò | first-class seat |
| 靠窗 | kào chuāng | by the window |
| 检票口 | jiǎn piào kǒu | ticket gate |
| 候车室 | hòu chē shì | waiting room |
| 站台 | zhàn tái | platform |
| 车厢 | chē xiāng | carriage; coach |
| 改签 | gǎi qiān | to change a ticket |
| 退票 | tuì piào | to refund a ticket |
| 晚点 | wǎn diǎn | to be delayed |
| 护照 | hù zhào | passport |
Usage tips
- Train numbers tell you the type: G trains are 高铁 (gāo tiě), the fastest, and D trains are 动车 (dòng chē), slightly slower, though people often say 坐高铁 (zuò gāo tiě) for both.
- 改签 (gǎi qiān) is changing your ticket to another train and 退票 (tuì piào) is getting a refund; both can usually be done in the booking app before departure.
- In a standard second-class carriage, seats A and F are by the window, so if you want a 靠窗 (kào chuāng) seat, look for those letters.
Common mistakes
- Using 平台 (píng tái) for a station platform → 平台 means a platform in the sense of a website or business; a station platform is 站台 (zhàn tái).
- Using 迟到 (chí dào) for a delayed train → 迟到 is a person being late; a train or flight that's delayed is 晚点 (wǎn diǎn).
Mini dialogue
- A你买到回家的车票了吗？Nǐ mǎi dào huí jiā de chē piào le ma?Did you get a ticket home?
- B抢到了，二等座，还是靠窗的。Qiǎng dào le, èr děng zuò, hái shì kào chuāng de.I managed to grab one, second class, and a window seat too.
- A几点的高铁？Jǐ diǎn de gāo tiě?What time's the train?
- B下午三点。不过我想改签到早一点的车。Xià wǔ sān diǎn. Bù guò wǒ xiǎng gǎi qiān dào zǎo yī diǎn de chē.Three in the afternoon. But I'd like to change to an earlier train.
- A那得快点儿，早一点的车票不多了。Nà děi kuài diǎnr, zǎo yī diǎn de chē piào bù duō le.Better hurry then, there aren't many tickets left for earlier trains.
Example sentences
- 从北京坐高铁去上海大概五个小时。From Beijing to Shanghai is about five hours by high-speed train.
- 动车比高铁慢一点。D-trains are a bit slower than G-trains.
- 五一的车票很难买。Tickets for the May Day holiday are hard to get.
- 过年回家要抢票。You have to fight for tickets to go home for New Year.
- 我买了两张二等座。I bought two second-class seats.
- 一等座宽一点，也安静。First class is a bit roomier and quieter.
- 我想要靠窗的座位。I'd like a window seat.
- 我们在十二号检票口等你。We'll wait for you at gate twelve.
- 候车室里人好多啊。The waiting room is packed.
- 请到三号站台上车。Please board at platform three.
- 我们在七号车厢。We're in coach seven.
- 我想改签到下午的车。I'd like to change to an afternoon train.
- 现在退票要手续费吗？Is there a fee to refund a ticket now?
- 我们的车晚点了半个小时。Our train was half an hour late.
- 很多车站可以刷护照进站。At many stations you can scan your passport to get in.
Practise speaking
Ready to use these words? The High-speed rail speaking island has 8 everyday questions about high-speed rail to prepare your own answers to.