公共交通
gōng gòng jiāo tōng
public transport
mass transit
public (公) + shared (共) + intersecting (交) + moving through (通) = public transport
The four characters trace a logical arc: something publicly and collectively owned, where routes cross and flow freely. 甬 lends 通 its sound; the movement radical 辶 carries the sense of open passage.
这座城市的公共交通很方便。
zhè zuò chéng shì de gōng gòng jiāo tōng hěn fāng biàn。
This city's public transport is very convenient.
政府计划花很多钱来改善公共交通系统。
zhèng fǔ jì huà huā hěn duō qián lái gǎi shàn gōng gòng jiāo tōng xì tǒng。
The government plans to spend a lot of money to improve the public transport system.