Ports, warehouses, lorries and supply chains, and how a parcel finds its way.
The vocabulary of moving goods is built from a handful of characters. 运, to carry, gives 运输, 海运, 空运 and 货运; 货, goods, gives 货物, 货车 and 发货. Once you know these, a word like 客运, passenger transport, explains itself. Several words are as much a part of online shopping as of trade, such as 单号, the tracking number, and 时效, how fast a delivery service actually is.
The words
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Verb (12)
运输to transport; transportVerb4
这批机器要用火车运输。This batch of machines is to be transported by train.
配送to deliver (to customers); deliveryVerb5
这家超市在市区内免费配送。This supermarket delivers free of charge within the city.
装卸to load and unloadVerb5
装卸的时候要小心，别把东西摔坏了。Take care when loading and unloading, so nothing gets broken.
运送to convey, ship (people or goods)Verb5
救灾物资已经用飞机运送到灾区了。Relief supplies have already been flown to the disaster area.
发货to dispatch, send out (goods)Verb5
商家说今天下午发货。The seller says the goods will be sent out this afternoon.
中转to change, transfer (on a journey)Verb5
去那个小城没有直达的车，要在省会中转。There is no direct service to that small town; you have to change in the provincial capital.
转运to transship, forward (goods)Verb5
包裹在转运中心停了两天。The parcel sat at the sorting centre for two days.
The same characters also mean a turn for the better in one’s luck.
调度to dispatch, coordinate (vehicles, staff)Verb5
车站正在调度车辆，乘客请耐心等待。The station is coordinating its vehicles; passengers are asked to wait patiently.
调 is fourth tone here.
清关to clear customs; customs clearanceVerb5
这批货还在海关清关，下周才能到。This shipment is still clearing customs and won’t arrive until next week.
报关to declare at customsVerb5
出口的货物都要先报关。All goods for export must first be declared at customs.
追踪to track, traceVerb5
在网上可以随时追踪包裹的位置。You can track where the parcel is online at any time.
搬运to carry, move (heavy things)Verb5
这台钢琴太重了，要找专业的人来搬运。This piano is too heavy; we need professionals to move it.
This list belongs to Getting around and travelling — nine lists and 361 words that can also be practised as a whole.
Practise this list
Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.