dou2 ce1倒車倒车

Jyutpingdou2 ce1

Yaledóu chē

Definition

To reverse a vehicle; to drive backward without turning around.

colloquialtransport

How it's used

Drivers often use this term to describe the specific action of backing up a vehicle, whether it is for parking or navigating out of a tight space. It is a functional verb that focuses on the direction of movement rather than the intent of the driver. You will frequently hear it used in driving lessons or when giving instructions to someone maneuvering a car.

Examples

nei5你dou3倒ce1車go2嗰zan6陣jiu3要tai2睇cing1清co2楚hau6後min6面aa4呀。

You need to look clearly behind you when reversing.

ni1呢go3個wai6位hou2好zaak3窄，nei5你sik1識m4唔sik1識dou3倒ce1車jap6入heoi3去？

This spot is very tight, do you know how to reverse into it?

Common phrases

dou3倒ce1車jap6入wai6位

reverse into a parking space

dou3倒ce1車geng3鏡

rear-view mirror

Common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse this with 掉頭, which means to make a U-turn or turn the vehicle around completely to face the opposite direction. Remember that 倒車 is strictly for moving backwards, not for changing the orientation of the car.