dài​jià: 代驾 - Designated Driver Service, Chauffeur Service

• Keywords: daijia, 代驾, designated driver in China, Chinese chauffeur service, what is daijia, how to use daijia, eDaijia, Didi daijia, drinking culture China, Chinese DUI laws, drive-for-you service
• Summary: 代驾 (dàijià) is a popular and convenient designated driver service in China where you hire a sober driver to drive you home in your own car. Fueled by a vibrant social drinking culture and extremely strict drunk driving laws, app-based services like Didi and eDaijia allow users to instantly book a professional driver who often arrives on a foldable scooter. This service is a cornerstone of modern urban life in China, ensuring a safe end to a night out.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): dài​jià
• Part of Speech: Noun (can also function as a verb in some contexts)
• HSK Level: N/A (but a highly practical and common modern term)
• Concise Definition: A professional service where a hired driver drives a client home in the client's own vehicle.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine you've driven your car to a business dinner and had a few drinks. You can't legally drive home. In China, you don't call a taxi and leave your car overnight. Instead, you use an app to call a `代驾`. A professional driver shows up, often on a compact foldable e-scooter, puts the scooter in your trunk, and drives you home safely in your car. It's a simple, affordable, and ingenious solution to a common urban problem.

• 代 (dài): To substitute, to act on behalf of, to replace. Think of words like `代表 (dàibiǎo)` - to represent, or `时代 (shídài)` - an era (one generation replacing another).
• 驾 (jià): To drive or pilot a vehicle or animal. It's part of the formal word for driving, `驾驶 (jiàshǐ)`.
• Combined Meaning: The characters literally combine to mean “to drive on behalf of someone,” which perfectly describes the service.

`代驾` is a fascinating modern phenomenon born from the intersection of ancient cultural practices, strict modern laws, and cutting-edge technology. To understand its importance, you need to know about China's social and business drinking culture. Sharing drinks, particularly the potent liquor `白酒 (báijiǔ)`, is a crucial part of building relationships (`关系 - guānxi`) and closing business deals. Refusing a drink can sometimes be seen as disrespectful. This creates a situation where driving to a social function often leads to drinking. However, in the 2010s, China enacted extremely harsh laws against drunk driving (`酒驾 - jiǔjià`), with severe penalties including hefty fines, license suspension, and even jail time. This created a massive societal need: how can people participate in essential drinking rituals without risking their freedom and safety? The Western concept of a “designated driver” is usually an informal social agreement among friends—one person volunteers not to drink. This is less common in China, especially in formal or business settings where everyone is expected to participate. `代驾` fills this gap perfectly. It's not a social favor; it's a professional, on-demand service accessible to everyone through super-apps like Didi. It allows people to uphold social obligations while acting as responsible, law-abiding citizens. The service is a brilliant example of modern Chinese pragmatism.

`代驾` is an integral part of urban nightlife and business.

• How to Use It: The process is seamlessly integrated into apps that most people in China already have on their phones, like Didi Chuxing (the “Uber of China”) or Meituan. You simply open the app, select the `代驾` service, confirm your location, and a nearby driver is dispatched. You can track their arrival in real-time.
• Common Scenarios:
  • After Business Dinners: This is the most common use case. After an `应酬 (yìngchou)`, or social business function.
  • After a night out with friends: Going to KTV, a bar, or a friend's house party.
  • When Fatigued: Some people use the service if they are too tired to drive safely after a long day of work or a long trip.
  • Medical Reasons: If someone feels unwell or has taken medication that impairs driving, they can use `代驾` to get themselves and their car home.

The connotation of using `代驾` is overwhelmingly positive. It is seen as a smart, responsible, and convenient choice. There is no stigma attached to it; rather, it's a sign of a responsible adult.

• Example 1:
  • 我们都喝酒了，叫个代驾吧。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen dōu hējiǔle, jiào ge dàijià ba.
  • English: We all drank alcohol, let's call a designated driver service.
  • Analysis: A very common and practical suggestion made among a group of friends or colleagues at the end of an evening.
• Example 2:
  • 你放心，我已经帮你叫好代驾了，他五分钟后到。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ fàngxīn, wǒ yǐjīng bāng nǐ jiào hǎo dàijià le, tā wǔ fēnzhōng hòu dào.
  • English: Don't worry, I've already called a 'daijia' for you. He'll arrive in five minutes.
  • Analysis: This shows how the service is used to care for a friend or guest, ensuring they get home safely. `叫好 (jiào hǎo)` implies the action of calling is successfully completed.
• Example 3:
  • 在中国，酒后找代驾是一种非常普遍的习惯。
  • Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó, jiǔhòu zhǎo dàijià shì yīzhǒng fēicháng pǔbiàn de xíguàn.
  • English: In China, finding a designated driver after drinking is a very common habit.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes the cultural norm and the widespread acceptance of the `代驾` service.
• Example 4:
  • 昨天晚上的代驾费用是多少？
  • Pinyin: Zuótiān wǎnshàng de dàijià fèiyòng shì duōshǎo?
  • English: How much was the 'daijia' fee from last night?
  • Analysis: A practical question about the cost of the service. `费用 (fèiyòng)` means fee or cost.
• Example 5:
  • 如果你开车来参加派对，喝酒了就必须叫代驾。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ kāichē lái cānjiā pàiduì, hējiǔle jiù bìxū jiào dàijià.
  • English: If you drive to the party, you must call a 'daijia' if you drink.
  • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes the non-negotiable rule of not drinking and driving, highlighting `代驾` as the only solution. `必须 (bìxū)` means “must”.
• Example 6:
  • 他晚上下班后会去做代驾来赚点外快。
  • Pinyin: Tā wǎnshàng xiàbān hòu huì qù zuò dàijià lái zhuàn diǎn wàikuài.
  • English: After getting off work in the evening, he works as a 'daijia' driver to earn some extra money.
  • Analysis: This shows `代驾` being used to refer to the job or role itself, not just the service. `赚外快 (zhuàn wàikuài)` is a common phrase for earning extra income.
• Example 7:
  • 打开滴滴软件，你就能看到代驾的选项。
  • Pinyin: Dǎkāi Dīdī ruǎnjiàn, nǐ jiù néng kàn dào dàijià de xuǎnxiàng.
  • English: Open the Didi app, and you'll be able to see the 'daijia' option.
  • Analysis: This provides practical instructions on how to access the service via the most popular ride-hailing app.
• Example 8:
  • 代驾师傅的技术很好，开车非常平稳。
  • Pinyin: Dàijià shīfù de jìshù hěn hǎo, kāichē fēicháng píngwěn.
  • English: The 'daijia' driver's skill was very good; he drove very smoothly.
  • Analysis: `师傅 (shīfù)` is a respectful term for a blue-collar worker or skilled tradesperson, commonly used for drivers.
• Example 9:
  • 我今天太累了，不想开车，干脆叫个代驾把我和车送回家。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān tài lèile, bùxiǎng kāichē, gāncuì jiào ge dàijià bǎ wǒ hé chē sòng huí jiā.
  • English: I'm too tired today and don't want to drive, I'll just call a 'daijia' to take me and the car home.
  • Analysis: This shows a non-alcohol-related use case for the service. `干脆 (gāncuì)` means “might as well” or “simply”.
• Example 10:
  • 严查酒驾的法律大大促进了代驾行业的发展。
  • Pinyin: Yán chá jiǔjià de fǎlǜ dàdà cùjìnle dàijià hángyè de fāzhǎn.
  • English: The laws strictly investigating drunk driving have greatly promoted the development of the 'daijia' industry.
  • Analysis: This sentence provides a high-level analysis of the market forces that led to the success of the `代驾` business. `行业 (hángyè)` means industry.

• `代驾` vs. Taxi/Didi: This is the most crucial distinction for foreigners. A taxi (`出租车 - chūzūchē`) or a Didi (`滴滴`) is a ride-hailing service where you ride in the driver's car. A `代驾` is a service where the driver comes to you and drives your own car. If you say “我叫个代驾 (wǒ jiào ge dàijià),” it implies you have a car with you that needs to be driven.
• False Friend: “Designated Driver”: While the function is similar, the term “designated driver” in English almost always refers to a friend who volunteers not to drink to drive everyone else home for free. `代驾` is always a paid, professional service provided by a stranger. You would never call your friend who is driving you home for free a `代驾`.
• Incorrect Usage:
  • “My friend is the 代驾 tonight.” (Incorrect if they are just a friend doing a favor).
  • Why it's wrong: This misapplies a term for a professional service to an informal, friendly arrangement. You would instead say: “今晚我朋友开车送我们回家 (Jīnwǎn wǒ péngyǒu kāichē sòng wǒmen huí jiā)” - “My friend is driving us home tonight.”

• 酒驾 (jiǔjià) - Drunk driving. The illegal act that `代驾` is the primary solution for.
• 滴滴出行 (Dīdī Chūxíng) - Didi, China's largest ride-hailing platform, which is a major provider of `代驾` services.
• 司机 (sījī) - Driver. `代驾` drivers are a specific type of `司机`.
• 应酬 (yìngchou) - A business-related social gathering, often obligatory, where drinking is common and `代驾` is often needed.
• 白酒 (báijiǔ) - A strong Chinese liquor that is a fixture at banquets and business dinners, fueling the demand for `代驾`.
• 罚款 (fákuǎn) - A fine or penalty. One of the serious consequences of being caught for `酒驾`.
• 叫车 (jiào chē) - To call a car (taxi/ride-hail). The user action is similar to calling a `代驾` within the app, but the service is different.
• 师傅 (shīfù) - A respectful title for a skilled worker, including taxi and `代驾` drivers.