California
California driving glossary: English–Chinese
98 driving terms with their Chinese names and a plain-English definition. Definitions are ours, based on the California Driver Handbook; each term links to the chapter whose rules back it up.
- right-of-way 路权
The rules that decide who goes first. Right-of-way is given, never taken: give it up whenever that prevents a crash.
- yield 让行
Slow down, and stop if needed, so the vehicle, cyclist or pedestrian who has the right-of-way can go first.
- YIELD sign 让行标志
The red-and-white downward triangle: slow down and be ready to stop for traffic and pedestrians.
- STOP sign STOP 标志
The red octagon: stop completely at the limit line or crosswalk, look every way, and go only when it’s safe.
- all-way stop 四向停车路口
An intersection with a STOP sign on every approach. The first car to stop goes first; cars that arrive together yield to the one on the right.
- limit line 停止线
The wide white line before an intersection or crosswalk. When you stop, stay behind it.
- crosswalk 人行横道（斑马线）
Where pedestrians cross, whether or not lines are painted. Pedestrians in a crosswalk have the right-of-way.
- pedestrian 行人
A person on foot, including people using a wheelchair or a three- or four-wheeled mobility device.
- vulnerable road user (VRU) 弱势道路使用者
Pedestrians, cyclists and others who travel without a vehicle around them, such as wheelchair users.
- blind intersection 视线受阻路口
An intersection with no STOP sign on any corner where your view is blocked. The limit there is 15 mph.
- roundabout 环岛
A circular intersection: traffic travels counterclockwise around a center island, and you yield to cars already circling before you enter.
- U-turn 掉头（U-turn）
Turning around to go back the way you came. In a residential district it’s allowed only when no vehicle is approaching within 200 feet.
- NO TURN ON RED 红灯禁止右转
A sign that forbids turning on a red light at that intersection; wait for the green.
- flashing red light 红灯闪烁
Treat it like a STOP sign: stop completely, then go when it’s safe.
- flashing yellow light 黄灯闪烁
Slow down and proceed with care. You don’t have to stop.
- flashing yellow arrow 黄色箭头闪烁
You may turn, but you’re not protected: yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians first.
- WALK / DON’T WALK 行人信号（走/不走）
Pedestrian signals. WALK or a walking figure: people may cross. DON’T WALK or a raised hand: they may not. Flashing: don’t start crossing.
- DO NOT ENTER 禁止驶入
A red-and-white sign: don’t drive into that road or ramp.
- WRONG WAY 逆行警告
You’re driving against traffic. Back out or turn around as soon as it’s safe.
- DO NOT PASS 禁止超车
A white rectangular sign: no passing on this stretch of road.
- SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT 慢车靠右
If you’re going slower than the traffic around you, use the right lane.
- LANE ENDS 车道结束
A yellow diamond warning that your lane is about to end. Merge early.
- SLIPPERY WHEN WET 雨天路滑
A yellow diamond warning that the road gets slick in rain. Slow down.
- warning sign 警告标志
Usually a yellow diamond that warns about the road or a hazard ahead. Follow warning signs whatever their shape or color.
- regulatory sign 禁令/规定标志
A white rectangle, or a red-and-white sign, that sets a rule you must obey.
- single solid yellow line 单黄实线
A center line on a two-way road. Don’t cross it to pass when the solid line is on your side.
- double solid yellow lines 双黄实线
No passing across them. You may cross them to turn left into or out of a driveway, or to make a U-turn.
- broken yellow line 黄色虚线
When the broken line is on your side, you may cross it to pass if it’s safe.
- double solid white lines 双白实线
Often found beside carpool lanes and near ramps. Never cross them to change lanes.
- yield line 让行线
A row of white triangles pointing at you: it shows where to yield or stop.
- center left-turn lane 中央左转车道
The middle lane of a two-way road, solid lines outside and broken lines inside. Use it only to start a left turn or U-turn, for no more than 200 feet.
- Number 1 lane 1 号车道（快车道）
The far-left lane. The lanes to its right are numbers 2, 3 and so on.
- HOV lane / carpool lane 拼车道（HOV 车道）
A lane marked with a diamond, for vehicles carrying at least the posted number of people, and for motorcycles. Since 2025-10-01, clean-air decals no longer let a solo driver use it.
- turnout 避车道
A pull-out area beside a two-lane road. If 5 or more vehicles are lined up behind you, pull in and let them pass.
- bike lane 自行车道
A lane for cyclists marked with a white line, sometimes painted green. Drivers may enter it only in a few cases, such as within 200 feet of a right turn.
- bus lane 公交专用道
A lane reserved for buses. You may cross it to make a right turn.
- shoulder 路肩
The edge of the road outside the travel lanes, for emergency stops.
- median / center divider 中央分隔带
A strip or barrier that separates traffic going in opposite directions.
- divided highway 分隔道路（中央有隔离的公路）
A road where a median or barrier separates the two directions of traffic.
- freeway 高速公路（freeway）
A limited-access highway that you enter and leave only by ramps.
- on-ramp / off-ramp 入口匝道 / 出口匝道
The short roads that take you onto and off a freeway.
- merge 并线（汇入）
Joining traffic from a ramp or the next lane. Traffic already on the freeway has the right-of-way.
- lane splitting 摩托车车道间穿行
A motorcycle riding between lanes of traffic. It’s legal in California.
- blind spot 盲区（盲区）
The areas beside and slightly behind your car that your mirrors don’t show. Turn your head to check them.
- No Zone 卡车盲区
The large areas around a truck where its driver can’t see you. If you can’t see the truck’s mirrors, the driver can’t see you.
- tailgating 跟车太近
Following so closely that you couldn’t stop in time if the car ahead braked hard.
- three-second rule 三秒规则
When the car ahead passes a fixed point, count three seconds. If you reach the point first, you’re too close.
- Basic Speed Law 基本速度法
Never drive faster than is safe for current conditions, whatever the posted limit.
- school zone 学校区域
Near a school (up to 500 feet away), when kids are outdoors or crossing, the limit is 25 mph unless signs say otherwise. Since 2026 some cities may post 20 mph.
- alley 小巷（后巷）
A road no more than 25 feet wide that serves the backs or sides of buildings. The limit is 15 mph.
- business / residential district 商业区 / 住宅区
Built-up areas of homes or businesses. The limit is 25 mph unless a sign says otherwise.
- curb 路缘（马路牙子）
The raised edge of the street. In California its paint color tells you the parking rule.
- red curb 红色路缘（红线）
No stopping, standing or parking (buses may stop where the red zone is marked for them).
- white curb 白色路缘
Stop only long enough for passengers to get in or out.
- green curb 绿色路缘
Parking for a limited time, shown on a sign or painted on the curb.
- yellow curb 黄色路缘
Stop only to load or unload passengers or freight, for no longer than the posted time.
- blue curb 蓝色路缘（残障人士车位）
Parking only for vehicles with a disability placard or plate.
- parallel parking 侧方停车
Parking along the curb between two cars. In California you end within 18 inches of the curb.
- parking brake 手刹（驻车制动）
Holds the car in place once it’s parked. Always set it on a hill.
- emergency flashers / hazard lights 双闪（危险警示灯）
All turn signals blinking at once: for a breakdown, or to warn drivers behind you of trouble ahead.
- high beams / low beams 远光灯 / 近光灯
Dim to low beams within 500 feet of an oncoming car and within 300 feet of a car you’re following.
- parking lights 示宽灯（小灯）
Driving with only the parking lights on is illegal. Use your headlights.
- hand-and-arm signals 手势信号
Left arm straight out: left turn. Bent up: right turn. Bent down: slowing or stopping.
- railroad crossing 铁路道口
Where a road crosses train tracks. When the red lights flash, stop at least 15 feet from the nearest rail.
- light rail / streetcar 轻轨 / 有轨电车
Trains that run on tracks in city streets. They have the same rights as other traffic.
- safety zone 安全岛
A marked area where passengers wait for a bus or streetcar. Never drive through one.
- emergency vehicle 紧急车辆
Police cars, fire engines, ambulances and similar vehicles. When one comes with a siren and red lights, pull to the right and stop.
- Move Over and Slow Down 让道减速规定
Move a lane away from, or slow down for, stopped emergency vehicles, tow trucks and road crews with flashing lights. Since 2026-01-01 this covers any stopped vehicle with hazard lights or warning devices.
- work zone 施工区
An area with road work. Traffic fines double when workers are present.
- Double Fine Zone 罚款加倍区
A posted stretch of road with a record of injury crashes, where traffic fines are doubled.
- flagger 旗手（交通指挥员）
A worker who directs traffic through a work zone with a flag or sign paddle. Do what they signal.
- slow-moving vehicle emblem 慢速车辆标志
A red-bordered orange triangle on the back of a vehicle that usually goes 25 mph or less.
- hazardous materials placard 危险品标志牌
A diamond-shaped sign on a truck carrying hazardous materials. Such trucks must stop before railroad crossings.
- crossing guard 交通协管员（护学员）
A person who helps children cross near a school. Always follow their directions.
- skid 侧滑（打滑）
When tires lose grip and the car slides. Ease off the gas, don’t brake, and steer in the direction of the skid.
- hydroplaning 水滑（打水漂）
When tires ride on water and lose contact with the road. Slow down gradually and don’t use the brakes.
- ABS (antilock braking system) 防抱死刹车系统（ABS）
Keeps the wheels from locking in a hard stop. With four-wheel ABS, keep firm pressure on the brake pedal.
- instruction permit 学习许可（permit）
The permit you practice with. A qualified licensed driver must ride with you.
- provisional license 未成年驾照（provisional）
The license for drivers under 18, with limits on night driving and on carrying passengers.
- knowledge test 笔试
DMV’s multiple-choice test on the rules of the road. Each application allows three tries.
- behind-the-wheel drive test 路考
The driving test in which a DMV examiner rides with you and scores your driving.
- Driving Performance Evaluation (DPE) 路考评分（DPE）
The scored part of the drive test: the examiner rides along and grades how you drive.
- REAL ID REAL ID（联邦标准证件）
A license or ID card that meets federal standards, needed for things like boarding domestic flights.
- DUI (driving under the influence) 酒驾 / 毒驾（DUI）
Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or both.
- BAC (blood alcohol concentration) 血液酒精浓度（BAC）
The amount of alcohol in your blood. A BAC of 0.10% means 0.10 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood.
- implied consent 默示同意
By driving in California you have agreed to a chemical test for alcohol or drugs if asked; refusing the first time brings a one-year suspension or revocation.
- open container 开封酒类容器
An opened container of alcohol or cannabis. The handbook says it must ride in the trunk or another area where no one sits; for opened alcohol, California’s Vehicle Code (Section 23225) requires the trunk if the car has one.
- ignition interlock device (IID) 点火酒精锁（IID）
A breath tester connected to the car: it won’t start until the driver passes the alcohol test.
- financial responsibility 财务责任（保险证明）
Proof that you can pay for damage you cause in a crash, usually car insurance.
- SR 22 / SR 1P SR 22 保险证明
California’s insurance proof certificate. DMV may require you to file it, and keep it up, to get your license back after certain suspensions.
- SR 1 SR 1 事故报告
The collision report you send DMV within 10 days when damage is over $1,000 or anyone is hurt or killed.
- hit-and-run 肇事逃逸
Leaving the scene of a crash without stopping. The penalties are severe.
- traffic citation (ticket) 罚单
A notice from police for a traffic violation. Signing it is a promise to appear in court.
- points 违章记分
Points added to your driving record for convictions. Too many in too short a time can mark you as a negligent driver.
- traffic violator school 交通学校
For a one-point ticket, a judge may let you take a class so the ticket isn’t reported to your insurer, once every 18 months.
- suspension / revocation 吊扣 / 吊销
A suspension takes away your driving privilege for a time; a revocation cancels it.
- registration 车辆登记（注册）
Recording your vehicle with DMV. Any vehicle you use in California must be registered here.