汽油 — meaning in English: gasoline

qìyóu · Learn this word with quizzes, examples and more on Maspeak.

Guess the translation for petrol

个性

gèxìng

飞机

fēijī

目的

mùdì

前进

qiánjìn

汽油

qìyóu

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neutral very common

Usage

Native speakers commonly use the word 汽油 (qìyóu) when discussing cars, filling up at gas stations, or talking about fuel prices. For instance, a conversation at a gas station might revolve around the current price of 汽油, or someone might mention how much 汽油 they use for a long road trip.

Synonyms & nuances

While 汽油 specifically refers to gasoline, 油 (yóu) is a more general term for oil. You would use 汽油 when specifically discussing gasoline for vehicles, whereas 油 could refer to cooking oil, petroleum, or other types of oils, depending on the context.

Culture

The word 汽油 is composed of two characters: 汽 (qì), meaning 'steam' or 'gas,' and 油 (yóu), meaning 'oil.' This reflects the historical evolution of fuel from steam engines to the modern gasoline engines we use today. Interestingly, as China rapidly industrialized, the demand for 汽油 surged, making it a crucial term in conversations about energy and transportation.

FAQ

Q.What is the pronunciation of 汽油?

汽油 is pronounced as qìyóu, with the first syllable having a rising tone and the second syllable having a rising tone as well.

Q.How do I use 汽油 in a sentence?

You can say, '我的车需要加汽油' (Wǒ de chē xūyào jiā qìyóu), which means 'My car needs gasoline.'

Q.Are there any common mistakes with 汽油?

One common mistake is to confuse 汽油 with other types of fuel, like 柴油 (cháiyóu), which means 'diesel.' Make sure you use 汽油 specifically when referring to gasoline for vehicles.

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Chinese (Mandarin) 2000