Usage note
公路是指连接城市和乡村的大型道路。
gōng lù shì zhǐ jiān yuán chéng shì hé xiāng cūn de dà xíng dào lù.
Highway refers to large roads connecting cities and rural areas.
Context note
公路常见于地图和交通指示牌上。
gōng lù cháng jiàn yú dì tú hé jiāo tōng zhǐ shì pái shàng.
Highways are commonly found on maps and traffic signs.
5 examples
这条公路很宽。
zhè tiáo gōng lù hěn kuān。
This highway is very wide.
我们沿着公路行驶。
wǒ men yán zhe gōng lù xíng shǐ。
We are driving along the highway.
高速公路限速120公里/小时。
gāo sù gōng lù xiàn sù 1 2 0 gōng lǐ / xiǎo shí。
The speed limit on highways is 120 kilometers per hour.
我们从这条公路去北京。
wǒ men cóng zhè tiáo gōng lù qù běi jīng。
We are going to Beijing via this highway.
这条公路正在扩建。
zhè tiáo gōng lù zhèng zài kuò jiàn。
This highway is under expansion.
5 mini stories
爸爸开车带我们走高速公路去旅游。
bà ba kāi chē dài wǒ men zǒu gāo sù gōng lù qù lǚ yóu。
Dad drives us on the highway for a trip.
我们经常沿着这条公路去上学。
wǒ men jīng cháng yán zhe zhè tiáo gōng lù qù shàng xué。
We often drive along this highway to school.
这条公路两边种了很多树。
zhè tiáo gōng lù liǎng biān zhǒng le hěn duō shù。
There are many trees on both sides of this highway.
我们从这条公路去机场。
wǒ men cóng zhè tiáo gōng lù qù jī chǎng。
We go to the airport via this highway.
这条公路是连接两个城市的唯一道路。
zhè tiáo gōng lù shì lián jiē liǎng gè chéng shì de wéi yī dào lù。
This highway is the only road connecting two cities.
Mini dialogue
上高速公路
A
爸爸，我们走公路还是高速公路？
Bàba, wǒmen zǒu gōnglù háishì gāosù gōnglù?
Dad, are we taking the highway or the expressway?
B
走公路吧，可以看看风景。
Zǒu gōnglù ba, kěyǐ kànkan fēngjǐng.
Let's take the highway; we can see the scenery.
公路旅行
A
暑假我们去哪儿玩？
Shǔjià wǒmen qù nǎr wán?
Where are we going for summer vacation?
B
我们开车走公路去海边。
Wǒmen kāichē zǒu gōnglù qù hǎibiān.
We'll drive on the highway to the seaside.
Related words and contrasts
similar
马路
mǎ lù
road
马路 is a general word for road, while 公路 usually means a highway between cities.
related
街道
jiē dào
street
街道 is a street in a city or town, smaller than a 公路.
related
高速公路
gāo sù gōng lù
expressway
高速公路 is a high-speed highway where cars go very fast.