jiǔjià: 酒驾 - Drunk Driving, DUI

• Keywords: jiǔjià, 酒驾, drunk driving in China, DUI in China, driving under the influence, Chinese law drunk driving, alcohol driving, what is jiu jia, Chinese traffic laws
• Summary: 酒驾 (jiǔjià) is the Chinese term for “drunk driving” or Driving Under the Influence (DUI). A combination of the characters for “alcohol” (酒) and “to drive” (驾), this term refers to the serious crime of operating a vehicle after consuming alcohol. In modern China, jiǔjià is met with extremely strict laws, severe penalties, and significant social stigma, making it a critical vocabulary word for anyone living, working, or driving in the country.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiǔjià (jiǔ jià)
• Part of Speech: Noun / Verb
• HSK Level: N/A (Equivalent to HSK 5/6 vocabulary, essential for daily life)
• Concise Definition: The act of driving a vehicle after consuming alcohol; drunk driving.
• In a Nutshell: 酒驾 (jiǔjià) is a straightforward and serious term. It's not a slang word; it's the official and common term used by police, in news reports, and in everyday conversation to describe the illegal act of driving with alcohol in your system. It carries a heavy, negative connotation of irresponsibility and criminality.

• 酒 (jiǔ): This character means “alcohol,” “wine,” or “liquor.” The pictograph originally depicted a jar (酉) for fermenting alcohol, with the three dots on the left (氵) being the “water” radical, signifying a liquid.
• 驾 (jià): This character means “to drive” or “to pilot.” It's composed of 加 (jiā), meaning “add,” and 马 (mǎ), meaning “horse.” It evokes the ancient image of harnessing and driving a horse-drawn chariot.

Together, 酒驾 (jiǔjià) literally translates to “alcohol-driving,” a clear and logical combination that is instantly understood by native speakers.

In the past, driving after a few drinks was sometimes tolerated in China, particularly in the context of business dinners where drinking is a major part of building relationships. However, starting around 2011, the Chinese government launched a massive, zero-tolerance crackdown that completely changed the cultural landscape. Today, 酒驾 (jiǔjià) is a major social taboo and a serious crime with severe consequences, including hefty fines, mandatory license suspension, and potential jail time, even for a first offense. This is a key cultural difference from some Western countries where a first-time DUI might be treated with more leniency. This strict enforcement has led to the rise of a massive industry: 代驾 (dàijià), or “designated driver services.” After a night of drinking, it is now standard practice for people to use a mobile app (similar to Uber) to hire a sober driver who will arrive, often on a foldable e-bike, and drive you home in your own car. This cultural phenomenon is a direct result of the strict laws against 酒驾. The underlying value is a state-enforced emphasis on public safety and social order, where an individual's desire to drink must not endanger the collective.

酒驾 (jiǔjià) is used frequently in formal and informal contexts, but its connotation is always negative and serious.

• In Conversation: Friends will warn each other, “喝了酒别开车，小心酒驾” (Hēle jiǔ bié kāichē, xiǎoxīn jiǔjià) - “Don't drive after drinking, be careful of drunk driving.”
• In the News: Media reports constantly cover 酒驾 crackdowns, accidents, and court cases to serve as a public deterrent.
• As a Verb: The term can be used directly as a verb. For example, “他昨晚酒驾了” (Tā zuówǎn jiǔjià le) - “He drunk drove last night.”
• As a Noun: It is also used as a noun. For example, “酒驾的后果很严重” (Jiǔjià de hòuguǒ hěn yánzhòng) - “The consequences of drunk driving are very serious.”

• Example 1:
  • 中国法律严禁酒驾。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó fǎlǜ yánjìn jiǔjià.
  • English: Chinese law strictly prohibits drunk driving.
  • Analysis: A simple, formal statement of fact. 严禁 (yánjìn) means “strictly prohibit.”
• Example 2:
  • 他因为酒驾被警察抓走了。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi jiǔjià bèi jǐngchá zhuā zǒu le.
  • English: He was taken away by the police for drunk driving.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the passive structure 被 (bèi) to show that something was done to the subject.
• Example 3:
  • 朋友们，记住：开车不喝酒，喝酒不开车。千万不要酒驾！
  • Pinyin: Péngyǒumen, jìzhù: kāichē bù hējiǔ, hējiǔ bù kāichē. Qiānwàn búyào jiǔjià!
  • English: Friends, remember: if you drive, don't drink; if you drink, don't drive. Absolutely do not drunk drive!
  • Analysis: This is a very common public service announcement slogan. 千万 (qiānwàn) means “by all means” or “absolutely” and is used for strong emphasis in warnings.
• Example 4:
  • 这次交通事故是由酒驾引起的。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì jiāotōng shìgù shì yóu jiǔjià yǐnqǐ de.
  • English: This traffic accident was caused by drunk driving.
  • Analysis: The structure 由…引起 (yóu…yǐnqǐ) is a common way to state the cause of something.
• Example 5:
  • 如果你酒驾，你的驾照会被吊销。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ jiǔjià, nǐ de jiàzhào huì bèi diàoxiāo.
  • English: If you drink and drive, your driver's license will be revoked.
  • Analysis: A clear conditional sentence explaining a direct consequence. 吊销 (diàoxiāo) means “to revoke.”
• Example 6:
  • 我今天开车来的，所以一口酒都不能喝，我可不想酒驾。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān kāichē lái de, suǒyǐ yī kǒu jiǔ dōu bùnéng hē, wǒ kě bùxiǎng jiǔjià.
  • English: I drove here today, so I can't drink a single drop of alcohol. I really don't want to get a DUI.
  • Analysis: A practical sentence used in a social setting to refuse a drink. 一口…都 (yī kǒu…dōu) emphasizes “not even one sip.”
• Example 7:
  • 别担心，我喝了酒。我已经叫了代驾，绝对不会酒驾。
  • Pinyin: Bié dānxīn, wǒ hēle jiǔ. Wǒ yǐjīng jiàole dàijià, juéduì bú huì jiǔjià.
  • English: Don't worry, I've been drinking. I've already called for a designated driver service; I absolutely will not drunk drive.
  • Analysis: This shows the responsible, modern alternative to 酒驾. 代驾 (dàijià) is the key term here.
• Example 8:
  • 警方在节假日期间会加强对酒驾的检查。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngfāng zài jiéjiàrì qījiān huì jiāqiáng duì jiǔjià de jiǎnchá.
  • English: The police will step up checks for drunk driving during the holiday period.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses vocabulary often seen in news reports. 加强 (jiāqiáng) means “to strengthen” or “to step up.”
• Example 9:
  • 他对酒驾的危险性认识不足。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì jiǔjià de wēixiǎn xìng rènshi bùzú.
  • English: He has an insufficient understanding of the dangers of drunk driving.
  • Analysis: A more formal way to describe someone's lack of awareness. 认识不足 (rènshi bùzú) means “insufficient understanding/awareness.”
• Example 10:
  • 任何形式的酒驾都是对自己和他人生命的不负责。
  • Pinyin: Rènhé xíngshì de jiǔjià dōu shì duì zìjǐ hé tārén shēngmìng de bù fùzé.
  • English: Any form of drunk driving is irresponsible towards your own life and the lives of others.
  • Analysis: This sentence expresses the moral and ethical reasoning behind the strict laws. 不负责 (bù fùzé) means “irresponsible.”

• `喝酒 (hējiǔ)` vs. `酒驾 (jiǔjià)`: This is the most critical distinction for a beginner. 喝酒 (hējiǔ) simply means “to drink alcohol” and is a very common social activity. 酒驾 (jiǔjià) is the crime of driving after drinking. You can hējiǔ, but you must not jiǔjià.
  • Correct: 我们去喝酒吧！喝完叫个代驾。(Wǒmen qù hējiǔ ba! Hē wán jiào ge dàijià.) - Let's go drinking! We can call a designated driver afterward.
  • Incorrect: 我们去酒驾吧！ (Wǒmen qù jiǔjià ba!) - This means “Let's go drunk driving!” and is dangerously wrong.
• Underestimating Severity: A common mistake for foreigners is to apply their home country's standards to China. In China, the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit is extremely low (0.02%), and the penalties are not negotiable. There is no concept of “I only had one beer, I'll be fine.” Any amount of alcohol detected can lead to a 酒驾 charge.
• `酒驾 (jiǔjià)` vs. `醉驾 (zuìjià)`: While both are illegal, there is a legal distinction. 酒驾 (jiǔjià) refers to driving with a BAC between 0.02% and 0.08%. 醉驾 (zuìjià), “drunk/intoxicated driving,” refers to driving with a BAC of 0.08% or higher. 醉驾 is a much more serious criminal offense, leading to mandatory jail time. For learners, knowing 酒驾 is sufficient, but understanding that there is an even more severe category is useful context.

• 醉驾 (zuìjià) - Drunk/intoxicated driving. A more serious criminal offense than 酒驾 with a higher blood alcohol level.
• 代驾 (dàijià) - Designated driver service for hire. A very popular and essential service in modern China.
• 喝酒 (hējiǔ) - To drink alcohol. The social activity that, if followed by driving, leads to 酒驾.
• 开车 (kāichē) - To drive a car.
• 警察 (jǐngchá) - Police. The authority that enforces laws against 酒驾.
• 吊销驾照 (diàoxiāo jiàzhào) - To have one's driver's license revoked. A common penalty for 酒驾.
• 罚款 (fákuǎn) - A fine/penalty (monetary). Another common punishment.
• 危险驾驶罪 (wēixiǎn jiàshǐ zuì) - The crime of dangerous driving. 醉驾 is prosecuted under this law.
• 交通法规 (jiāotōng fǎguī) - Traffic laws/regulations.
• 司机 (sījī) - Driver.