【HZMB、Mainland Driving License Test】A Complete Guide to Traffic Terminology in Mainland China and Hong Kong | Practical Driving Notes
Author:
Eric Lau
Created On:
2026-01-21
Edited On:
2026-01-21
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Planning for Hong Kong Cars to the North or taking a driving test in Mainland China? In addition to preparing the relevant HZMB car insurance, you must first understand the driving-related terminology and vocabulary used in Hong Kong and Mainland China regarding traffic, road conditions, and road signs, to avoid misunderstandings and safety risks. This time, Kwiksure will break down the differences in common driving terminology and vocabulary that drivers need to be aware of in Mainland China and Hong Kong, to help you adapt to the Mainland road environment more quickly.
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Road Section - Road Sign and Markings Terminology
Mainland China uses simplified Chinese characters, so road signs are naturally in simplified Chinese and also include Mandarin pinyin. However, for Hong Kong people, they may not fully understand them. It is advisable to look at simplified Chinese characters more often to understand the place names on road signs. In addition, common road sign terminology also differs from Hong Kong's.
|
Hong Kong Term |
Mainland China Term |
|
慢駛／減速 (Slow Down / Decelerate) |
減速慢行／注意減速 (Slow Down / Pay Attention to Deceleration) |
|
行人過路處 (Pedestrian Crossing) |
人行橫道 (Pedestrian Crossing / Crosswalk) |
|
紅綠燈 (Traffic Light) |
信號燈 (Signal Light) |
|
車道 (Carriageway / Lane) |
行車線 (Traffic Lane) |
|
高速公路出入口 (Expressway Entrance/Exit) |
匝道 (Ramp / Slip Road) |
|
交匯處 (Interchange) |
立交處 (Grade-separated Interchange) |
|
迴旋處 (Roundabout) |
環島／環形交叉口 (Traffic Circle / Ring Intersection) |
|
停車場 (Car Park) |
停車場／停車樓 (Car Park / Parking Building) |
|
休息站 (Rest Area) |
服務區 (Service Area) |
|
單程 (One-way) |
單向 / 單行 (One-way) |
|
緊急車道 (Emergency Lane) |
應急車道 (Emergency Lane) |
Driving Section - Practical Road Situations
Whether it's Hong Kong cars driving North or Hong Kong people learning to drive in Mainland China, being familiar with the daily driving terminology used in the Mainland not only helps to enhance driving safety but also speeds up the learning process for learners and increases the chance of successfully obtaining a driving license.
|
Hong Kong Term |
Mainland China Term |
|
快線／慢線 (Fast Lane / Slow Lane) |
超車道／行車道／慢車道 (Overtaking Lane / Driving Lane / Slow Lane) |
|
切線 (Cutting In) |
變道／加塞 (Changing Lane / Cutting In) |
|
爬頭 (Overtaking) |
超車 (Overtaking) |
|
cut 線 (Changing Lane) |
變線 (Changing Lane) |
|
掂線 (Driving close to the line) |
貼線 (Sticking to the line) |
|
踩線 / 責線 (Driving on the line / Crossing the line) |
壓線 (Driving on the line) |
|
左右 cut 線 (Cutting left/right) |
蛇形走位 (Snake-like maneuvering) |
Mechanical Section - Maintenance and Servicing
Car maintenance and servicing fees in Mainland China are cheaper than in Hong Kong, attracting many car owners from Hong Kong driving North to have their cars serviced in the Mainland. However, the names for many car parts in Hong Kong and Mainland China are different. You can refer to the comparison of car parts below to facilitate communication with Mainland repair shops.
|
Hong Kong Term |
Mainland China Term |
|
引擎 (Engine) |
發動機 (Engine) |
|
偈油 (Engine Oil) |
發動機油 (Engine Oil) |
|
風格 (Air Filter) |
空氣濾芯 (Air Filter Element) |
|
冷氣隔 (A/C Filter) |
空調濾芯 (Air Conditioning Filter Element) |
|
波箱 (Gearbox / Transmission) |
變速箱 (Transmission / Gearbox) |
|
波箱油 (Gearbox Oil) |
變速箱油 (Transmission Fluid) |
|
波棍 (Gear Stick / Shift Lever) |
排檔桿 (Shift Lever) |
|
一波、二波... (First Gear, Second Gear...) |
一檔、二檔... (First Gear, Second Gear...) |
|
車胎 (Tyre) |
輪胎 (Tyre) |
|
呔盤 (Steering Wheel) |
方向盤 (Steering Wheel) |
|
水撥 (Wiper) |
雨刮 (Wiper) |
|
水箱水 (Radiator Water / Coolant) |
冷卻液 / 冷卻劑 (Coolant) |
|
車鈴 (Wheel Rim) |
輪轂 (Wheel Hub / Rim) |
|
迫力皮 (Brake Pad) |
剎車片 (Brake Pad) |
|
避震 (Suspension System) |
減震器 (Suspension System) |
Mainland Driving Notes
Right-Hand Traffic - The first thing to note when driving in Mainland China is that the direction of travel changes from left-hand drive (left on top, right on bottom) in Hong Kong to right-hand drive (right on top, left on bottom). The leftmost lane is the "fast lane", and if you want to overtake the car in front, you should overtake from the left lane.
Mind the Signals - At some intersections in Mainland China, turning right is allowed on a red light, as long as there are no pedestrians or horizontal traffic, unless a red right-turn arrow light is lit prohibiting the right turn.
Pay Attention to Lanes - In Hong Kong, a double white line means vehicles are prohibited from crossing. In Mainland China, a single white line is used for this. Single and double yellow lines are used to separate lanes in opposite directions and are also not allowed to be crossed.
Intersections - When encountering an intersection without traffic lights and needing to turn left, remember the principle of "go straight first, then turn left". Let the straight-through traffic from the opposite lane pass first, and then turn left.
Entering and Exiting Car Parks - Most car parks in Mainland China have an automatic scanning system, which automatically records the license plate number upon entry. If it fails to recognize the plate, staff assistance is required. For charging, general car parks in urban shopping malls cost ¥5 - ¥8 RMB per hour. A QR Code will be displayed upon exit, and payment can be made using Alipay or WeChat Pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Mainland traffic terms are essential to learn before driving North?
The most basic ones are terms for driving direction, turning rules, and overtaking, such as "靠右行駛" (Keep right), "超車道" (Overtaking lane), "變道" (Change lane), and "人行橫道" (Pedestrian crossing), as these directly affect safety. Next are terms like "匝道" (Ramp), "收費站" (Toll station), and "立交處" (Interchange) to better understand navigation instructions.
What should I be mindful of when communicating with a Mainland car repair shop for car maintenance?
If you plan to service your car in Mainland China, you should first understand the Mainland names for different car parts. The parts Hong Kong car owners most commonly replace or repair include 偈油 (Engine oil / 發動機油), 風格 (Air filter / 空氣濾芯), 波箱油 (Gearbox oil / 變速箱油), 避震 (Shock absorber / 減震機), and 迫力皮 (Brake pad / 剎車片).
