Understanding "出行" - Chinese Word Explanation

1. Basic Information

• Word: 出行
• Pinyin: chūxíng
• Literal Meaning: “go out” + “travel/move”
• Primary Meaning: to travel; to go out; to make a trip, especially involving transportation or planned movement from one place to another

2. In-depth Explanation

• Context and Usage:
  出行 is commonly used to describe the act of going out or traveling, often with a focus on transportation, travel arrangements, or public movement. It is more formal than simply saying 出去 (“to go out”) and is often used in news, transportation announcements, travel apps, weather reports, and discussions about commuting or trips.

In English, 出行 can be translated as:
- “to travel”
- “to go out”
- “to make a trip”
- “travel/mobility” as a noun in some contexts

For example, when talking about traffic, weather, holidays, or travel safety, 出行 is very natural:
- holiday travel
- safe travel
- convenient transportation
- choosing a way to travel

It is not usually used for very casual situations like “I’m going out to buy milk.” In that case, Chinese speakers would more likely say 出去 or 出门. 出行 sounds more planned, official, or related to transportation.

• Character Breakdown:
  出行 is made of two characters:

• 出: to go out; to leave; to come out

• 行: to walk; to travel; to move; journey

Together, 出行 literally suggests “going out and moving/traveling,” which gives the meaning of traveling or making a trip.

3. Example Sentences

• Chinese: 雨天出行要注意安全。
• Pinyin: Yǔtiān chūxíng yào zhùyì ānquán.

• English: Be careful when traveling on rainy days.

• Chinese: 春节期间，很多人选择坐高铁出行。

• Pinyin: Chūnjié qījiān, hěn duō rén xuǎnzé zuò gāotiě chūxíng.

• English: During the Spring Festival, many people choose to travel by high-speed rail.

• Chinese: 这款手机应用可以帮助你规划出行路线。

• Pinyin: Zhè kuǎn shǒujī yìngyòng kěyǐ bāngzhù nǐ guīhuà chūxíng lùxiàn.
• English: This mobile app can help you plan your travel route.

Cultural Notes (if applicable)

In modern Chinese, 出行 is often connected with transportation and public travel. You may see it in phrases such as:

• 绿色出行: green travel; eco-friendly transportation
• 安全出行: safe travel
• 假期出行: holiday travel
• 出行方式: mode of transportation
• 出行路线: travel route

A very common phrase is 绿色出行, which encourages people to use environmentally friendly ways of traveling, such as walking, cycling, taking buses, or using the subway.

During major Chinese holidays, especially 春节 — the Spring Festival — 出行 appears frequently in news reports because millions of people travel to visit family. This large movement of people is an important cultural and social event in China.

Conclusion

出行 means “to travel” or “to go out,” especially when talking about transportation, planned trips, safety, routes, or travel methods. It is more formal and practical than 出去, and it is very common in news, apps, public announcements, and everyday discussions about travel. Remember: 出 means “go out,” and 行 relates to “travel or movement,” so 出行 means going out to travel or make a trip.