車

Wheeled vehicles including carts, wagons, and carriages. In Pre-Qin and Han contexts, the term frequently refers specifically to the war chariot as a tactical unit and marker of aristocratic rank. In funeral or burial texts, it may denote a hearse or ceremonial carriage.

Used primarily as a noun. It can function as a verb meaning "to transport via wheeled vehicle," generally implying the movement of bulk goods, heavy objects, or multiple people.

The glyph is neutral regarding social status; whether it refers to a peasant’s cart or a nobleman’s chariot depends on modifiers and the status of the subjects involved. When paired with 馬 (horse), it often serves as a general term for travel or traffic. Use alongside technical terms such as 輪 (wheel), 軸 (axle), or 轂 (hub) typically signals a shift from "transport" as a concept to the physical or mechanical reality of the vehicle.

Simplified variant: 車 (U+8F66).

In certain contexts, this glyph may be used interchangeably with 輪 (wheel) to represent the mechanism of rotation or transport.