末班车 (mò bān chē) — last bus or train; (figurative) last chance, final opportunity

Definition

Literally the last scheduled bus or train; figuratively, your 'last chance' before a window closes. Used in both literal transport contexts and metaphorical deadlines like jobs, investments, or opportunities.

noun
last bus or train(figurative) last chancefinal opportunity
Measure word · 趟

Examples

  • 末班车。
    Wǒ chà diǎn méi gǎn shàng mò bān chē.
    I almost missed the last bus.
  • ，末班车。
    Zhè shì nǐ zuì hòu yí cì jī huì le, bié cuò guò mò bān chē.
    This is your last chance — don't miss it.
  • ，末班车。
    Rú guǒ wǒ men xiàn zài bù tóu zī, jiù zhēn de gǎn bú shàng mò bān chē le.
    If we don't invest now, we'll really miss the boat.

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.

末班last run
末mòlast班bānrun
偏正Modifier + head
车chēvehicle

末班 means the last scheduled run, and 车 is the vehicle, so this names the final bus or train.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

末 adds a mark at the top of a tree-like shape to show its tip or end.

Open 末 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 珏珏juépieces of jade
  • 刀刀dāoknife

班 shows 珏, pieces of jade, and 刀, a knife, cutting them into pieces.

Open 班 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 車; 车 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 車 was drawn as a carriage seen from above, with wheels on both sides and a shaft at the front; the simplified 车 is a later shorthand.

Open 车 →

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