乘 chéng ride
ride; to take
How to remember 乘: 禾 grain + 北 north = ride. The farmer loads sacks of grain onto the freight train heading north, and the driver lets him ride up front for free.
Component breakdown
乘 = 禾 grain + 北 north
- 禾 grain
- 北 north
- 匕 spoon
- 匕 spoon
The farmer loads sacks of grain onto the freight train heading north, and the driver lets him ride up front for free.
How it came to be
A person standing on top of a tree, arms and legs spread wide. Climbing onto something and staying there is the word: a cart, a horse or a branch.
How it is used
- The formal verb for 'travel by / take (a vehicle)': 乘飞机 (chéng fēijī) go by plane, 乘车 (chéng chē) ride in a car. Everyday speech usually prefers 坐 (zuò).
- 乘客 (chéngkè) = passenger, 乘务员 (chéngwùyuán) = flight/train attendant - announcements and signage use this register.
- Second sense 'to multiply' in math: 三乘二 (sān chéng èr) three times two; and 'seize (an opportunity)' in 乘机 / 可乘之机 (kěchéngzhījī, an opening to exploit).
Characters built with 乘
Words with 乘
Example sentences
- 我乘出租车离开。 Wǒ chéng chūzūchē líkāi.I'm leaving by taxi.