Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== lǚxíng: 旅行 - Travel, Trip, Journey ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** lǚxíng, 旅行, travel in Chinese, Chinese word for trip, journey in Chinese, HSK 3 vocabulary, how to say travel in Mandarin, Chinese for travelers, lǚyóu vs lǚxíng * **Summary:** Learn how to use the essential Chinese word **旅行 (lǚxíng)**, which means "to travel" or "a trip." This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage for beginners. Discover the crucial difference between **旅行 (lǚxíng)** and 旅游 (lǚyóu) to speak like a native, and explore a wealth of example sentences to master your Chinese travel vocabulary. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** lǚxíng * **Part of Speech:** Verb / Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 3 * **Concise Definition:** To travel; a trip, a journey. * **In a Nutshell:** **旅行 (lǚxíng)** is the general, all-purpose Chinese word for traveling. It encompasses the entire experience of a journey, from planning to returning home. Think of it as the broad concept of "travel," whether it's for backpacking, a family vacation, or self-discovery. It often carries a sense of personal experience and exploration. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **旅 (lǚ):** This character originally depicted people under a banner or flag, suggesting a group traveling together, like an army brigade or a caravan. Today, its primary meaning is "trip" or "travel." * **行 (xíng):** This character is a pictograph of a crossroads, meaning "to walk," "to go," or "to act/perform." It's one of the most fundamental characters related to movement. When combined, **旅行 (lǚxíng)** literally means "to journey by going/walking." It captures the essence of moving from one place to another, emphasizing the process and the experience of the journey itself. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== Historically, extensive travel in China was a serious undertaking, often reserved for scholars, officials on imperial duty, or merchants. The famous proverb **读万卷书，不如行万里路 (dú wàn juàn shū, bùrú xíng wàn lǐ lù)** — "Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles" — highlights the deep cultural value placed on experiential learning through travel. Travel was seen as a way to truly understand the world and oneself. In modern China, with the economic boom and the development of high-speed rail and air travel, **旅行 (lǚxíng)** has become a central part of life for the growing middle class. It's a symbol of status, a way to relax, and an important activity for family bonding. Compared to the English word "travel," **旅行** is very similar in its general sense. However, its cultural weight is slightly different. While in the West, a "trip" can be a casual weekend getaway, **旅行** in China often implies a more significant, planned journey. It's often discussed in the context of life goals, such as a "graduation trip" (毕业旅行, bìyè lǚxíng) or a "honeymoon trip" (蜜月旅行, mìyuè lǚxíng), marking important life transitions. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **旅行** is an extremely common word used in everyday conversation, on social media, and in formal contexts. * **As a Verb:** It's used to describe the action of traveling. * 我明年想去欧洲**旅行**。 (Wǒ míngnián xiǎng qù Ōuzhōu lǚxíng.) - I want to travel to Europe next year. * **As a Noun:** It's used to refer to the trip or journey itself. * 这次**旅行**怎么样？ (Zhè cì lǚxíng zěnmeyàng?) - How was this trip? * **Social Media:** Chinese social media is filled with posts about **旅行**. Users share photos and stories from their travels, often using hashtags like #旅行日记 (lǚxíng rìjì - travel diary) or #说走就走的旅行 (shuō zǒu jiù zǒu de lǚxíng - a spontaneous trip). * **Connotation:** The word carries a positive and slightly adventurous connotation. It focuses more on the personal experience and the journey, rather than just the tourist activities. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 我非常喜欢**旅行**。 * Pinyin: Wǒ fēicháng xǐhuān **lǚxíng**. * English: I really like to travel. * Analysis: A simple and direct sentence to express your hobby. This uses **旅行** as a verb. * **Example 2:** * 你计划什么时候去**旅行**？ * Pinyin: Nǐ jìhuà shénme shíhòu qù **lǚxíng**? * English: When are you planning to go travel? * Analysis: A common question when discussing future plans. `去旅行 (qù lǚxíng)` is a very common structure, literally "to go travel." * **Example 3:** * 这次去北京的**旅行**非常有意思。 * Pinyin: Zhè cì qù Běijīng de **lǚxíng** fēicháng yǒu yìsi. * English: This trip to Beijing was very interesting. * Analysis: Here, **旅行** is used as a noun, modified by `这次 (zhè cì - this time)` and `去北京的 (qù Běijīng de - to Beijing)`. * **Example 4:** * 他们正在为他们的蜜月**旅行**做准备。 * Pinyin: Tāmen zhèngzài wèi tāmen de mìyuè **lǚxíng** zuò zhǔnbèi. * English: They are preparing for their honeymoon trip. * Analysis: This shows how **旅行** can be combined with other nouns like `蜜月 (mìyuè - honeymoon)` to describe a specific type of trip. * **Example 5:** * 一个人**旅行**可以帮助你更好地了解自己。 * Pinyin: Yí ge rén **lǚxíng** kěyǐ bāngzhù nǐ gèng hǎo de liǎojiě zìjǐ. * English: Traveling alone can help you understand yourself better. * Analysis: This sentence touches on the deeper, more philosophical aspect of travel often associated with **旅行**. * **Example 6:** * 我们决定来一场说走就走的**旅行**。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen juédìng lái yī chǎng shuō zǒu jiù zǒu de **lǚxíng**. * English: We decided to go on a spontaneous trip. * Analysis: `说走就走 (shuō zǒu jiù zǒu)` is a popular idiom meaning "to leave at a moment's notice." The measure word for a trip is `场 (chǎng)`. * **Example 7:** * 你的**旅行**预算是多少？ * Pinyin: Nǐ de **lǚxíng** yùsuàn shì duōshǎo? * English: What is your travel budget? * Analysis: A practical question. **旅行** is used here as a noun to specify the type of `预算 (yùsuàn - budget)`. * **Example 8:** * 毕业**旅行**是很多学生期待的活动。 * Pinyin: Bìyè **lǚxíng** shì hěn duō xuéshēng qīdài de huódòng. * English: A graduation trip is an activity that many students look forward to. * Analysis: `毕业旅行 (bìyè lǚxíng)` is a rite of passage for many Chinese students, marking the end of an era. * **Example 9:** * 他用一年的时间**旅行**了十个国家。 * Pinyin: Tā yòng yī nián de shíjiān **lǚxíng** le shí ge guójiā. * English: He spent one year traveling to ten countries. * Analysis: This sentence uses **旅行** as a verb with the particle `了 (le)` to indicate the completion of the action. * **Example 10:** * **旅行**不只是看风景，更是体验不同的文化。 * Pinyin: **Lǚxíng** bù zhǐshì kàn fēngjǐng, gèng shì tǐyàn bùtóng de wénhuà. * English: Travel is not just about seeing scenery, it's even more about experiencing different cultures. * Analysis: This sentence perfectly encapsulates the deep meaning of **旅行**, distinguishing it from simple sightseeing. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between **旅行 (lǚxíng)** and **旅游 (lǚyóu)**. They both translate to "travel" but have different focuses. * **旅行 (lǚxíng) - Travel/Journey:** * **Focus:** The entire process and experience of the journey. * **Purpose:** Can be for any reason (leisure, work, study, self-discovery, backpacking). * **Feeling:** More personal, adventurous, experiential. * **Example:** 毕业**旅行** (bìyè lǚxíng) - A graduation trip is about the shared experience with friends, not just the sights. * **旅游 (lǚyóu) - Tourism/Sightseeing:** * **Focus:** The destination and leisure activities (visiting attractions, shopping, relaxing). * **Purpose:** Almost exclusively for leisure and fun. * **Feeling:** More like a "tourist" on "vacation." * **Example:** 黄金周**旅游** (huángjīnzhōu lǚyóu) - Golden Week tourism is about visiting famous, often crowded, tourist spots. **Key Rule of Thumb:** All **旅游 (lǚyóu)** is a type of **旅行 (lǚxíng)**, but not all **旅行 (lǚxíng)** is **旅游 (lǚyóu)**. **Incorrect Usage:** * **Wrong:** 我去北京**旅游**出差。 (Wǒ qù Běijīng lǚyóu chūchāi.) * **Why it's wrong:** `旅游 (lǚyóu)` is for leisure, while `出差 (chūchāi)` is a business trip. The purposes conflict. * **Correct:** 我去北京**出差**。 (Wǒ qù Běijīng chūchāi.) Or, if you did some sightseeing on the side, you could say: 我这次去北京**出差**，顺便也**旅游**了一下。(Wǒ zhè cì qù Běijīng chūchāi, shùnbiàn yě lǚyóu le yíxià. - I went to Beijing on a business trip this time and also did a bit of sightseeing on the side.) ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[旅游]] (lǚyóu) - Tourism, sightseeing. The act of traveling specifically for pleasure and visiting attractions. * [[出差]] (chūchāi) - A business trip. The specific term for work-related travel. * [[度假]] (dùjià) - To go on vacation, to take a holiday. Often implies relaxing at a resort. * [[游客]] (yóukè) - Tourist. A person on `旅游`. * [[旅客]] (lǚkè) - Traveler, passenger. A more general term for a person on a `旅行` or using transport. * [[行程]] (xíngchéng) - Itinerary. The planned route and schedule for a trip. * [[背包客]] (bēibāokè) - Backpacker. A type of traveler often associated with a more adventurous style of `旅行`. * [[假期]] (jiàqī) - Vacation, holiday period (e.g., summer vacation, national holiday). * [[环游世界]] (huányóu shìjiè) - To travel around the world. The ultimate `旅行`.