客运站 (kè yùn zhàn) — long-distance bus station; coach station

Definition

A 客运站 is a long-distance bus/coach station for intercity travel — distinct from a city bus stop (公交站) or train station (火车站).

noun
long-distance bus stationcoach station
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 客运站。
    Wǒ cóng kè yùn zhàn zuò dà bā qù shàng hǎi.
    I took a bus from the long-distance station to Shanghai.
  • 客运站。
    Zhè ge kè yùn zhàn měi tiān fā chē hěn duō cì.
    This coach station runs many departures every day.
  • 客运站。
    kè yùn zhàn Lǐ miàn yǒu yí gè biàn lì diàn.
    There is a convenience store inside the bus station.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

客运passenger transport
客kèpassenger运yùntransport
偏正Modifier + head
站zhànstation

客运 (passenger transport) and 站 (station) give a station for passenger transport.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
各
各gè客kè
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 客, 宀 is a roof and 各 gives the sound; the character meant a guest.

Open 客 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 運; 运 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòmotion
Sound part声符shēngfú
軍
軍jūn運yùn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 運 combines 辵, meaning motion, with 軍 to give the sound; the simplified 运 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical components.

Open 运 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
立立lì
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn站zhàn
Same sound today

站 has 立 on the left and 占 on the right; 立 relates to standing, and 占 gives the sound.

Open 站 →

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