These three characters combine perfectly to form 自行车 (zìxíngchē), a “self-traveling vehicle”—a wonderfully descriptive name for a bicycle, which moves under its own power (via the rider).
The bicycle is not just a mode of transport in China; it's a cultural icon that tells the story of the country's transformation. In the latter half of the 20th century, China was famously known as the “自行车王国” (zìxíngchē wángguó) - the Bicycle Kingdom. During this time, owning a bicycle from a famous brand like “永久 (Yǒngjiǔ)” or “凤凰 (Fènghuáng)” was a major life goal. It was one of the “三大件” (sān dà jiàn), or “three big items,” (along with a watch and a sewing machine) that every family aspired to own, signifying progress and a step into modernity. Streets were filled with a sea of cyclists, a powerful collective image of a nation on the move. This contrasts sharply with the Western perception of the bicycle, which has often been more associated with leisure, sport, or individual environmentalism. In China, its primary identity was rooted in mass utility and economic necessity. Today, this legacy has been transformed by technology. While cars now dominate the roads, the bicycle has had a massive resurgence through 共享单车 (gòngxiǎng dānchē) - shared bikes. App-based services from companies like Meituan (美团), Hello Inc. (哈啰), and Didi (滴滴) have placed millions of colorful, GPS-tracked bikes on every city corner. The “Bicycle Kingdom” has evolved from a symbol of collective socialist progress to one of modern, individual, on-demand convenience.
自行车 is a neutral, everyday word used in all contexts, formal and informal.
The most crucial grammar point is the verb used for riding a bike: 骑 (qí). You always 骑自行车 (qí zìxíngchē).