<p>我想买一辆二手的马自达作为代步车</p>
<p>In the context of this particular sentence, the only way for the sentence to make sense is to translate 代步车 as &quot;transportation&quot;, as in:-</p>
<p>&quot;I am thinking of buying a second hand Mazda as transportation&quot;,
because 代步 also means &quot;to transport&quot;, and I think the 车 is clumsily used because 代步车 could easily be confused with &quot;scooter&quot;, the common default meaning.</p>
<p>It is better to say 代步工具 to avoid such confusion.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-02-15T22:56:15.873Z
Agreed. The original sentence likes saying; "我想买一辆二手**车**作为代步**车**, the second "车" does not make logical sense. Either "工具" or "用" is the normal choice of replacement word.
r13
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-02-16T03:29:01.303Z
Unless the author wants to convey the contemporary, "cool", idea of using the secondhand Mazda for "scootering" around town for leisure fun, rather then as a primary means of everyday commute transportation? Nowadays the Chinese language is heavily influenced by English / European expressions borne out of contemporary culture.
Wayne Cheah
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-02-16T13:41:46.737Z
I wouldn't comment if he says "這一辆二手的马自达是我的代步车", although not perfect, it is acceptable :)
r13
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-02-15T14:26:35.623Z
2023-02-15T14:26:35.623Z
Wayne Cheah
<p>作为 = to be/ as</p>
<p>代步 (replace walking) = for transportation</p>
<p>车 = car</p>
<blockquote>
<p>我想买一辆二手的马自达作为[<strong>代步</strong>]车</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>I want to buy a used Mazda to be my [<strong>transportation</strong>] vehicle</p>
</blockquote>
<p>代步 is an adjective for 车</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-02-15T14:38:13.053Z
my personal transportation vehicle is an e-bike. Yes, bicycles and e-bikes are vehicles too
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-02-15T14:34:59.183Z
2023-02-15T14:34:59.183Z
Tang Ho
<p>Google translate tells me that 作为代步车 means &quot;as a scooter&quot;.</p>
<p>Is that what it means in this sentence:
我想买一辆二手的马自达作为代步车</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-02-15T15:42:45.380Z
代步 means to replace walking. Any transportation (including scooters and cars or even airplanes can be a 代步工具). Here, it specifies 代步车, which means a car as transportation (to replace walking). This often depends on context. If you say, 我想买辆摩托车作为代步车, would have the meaning: I'm thinking of buying a motorcycle as transportation.
Wolfking
<mandarin>
Use a car as a scooter? 作为代步车?
# Use a car as a scooter? 作为代步车?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-02-15)

Google translate tells me that 作为代步车 means "as a scooter".

Is that what it means in this sentence:
我想买一辆二手的马自达作为代步车

**Tags:** mandarin

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 代步 means to replace walking. Any transportation (including scooters and cars or even airplanes can be a 代步工具). Here, it specifies 代步车, which means a car as transportation (to replace walking). This often depends on context. If you say, 我想买辆摩托车作为代步车, would have the meaning: I'm thinking of buying a motorcycle as transportation.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2023-02-15. Score: 2

我想买一辆二手的马自达作为代步车

In the context of this particular sentence, the only way for the sentence to make sense is to translate 代步车 as "transportation", as in:-

"I am thinking of buying a second hand Mazda as transportation",
because 代步 also means "to transport", and I think the 车 is clumsily used because 代步车 could easily be confused with "scooter", the common default meaning.

It is better to say 代步工具 to avoid such confusion.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Agreed. The original sentence likes saying; "我想买一辆二手**车**作为代步**车**, the second "车" does not make logical sense. Either "工具" or "用" is the normal choice of replacement word.  
> **username_2**: Unless the author wants to convey the contemporary, "cool", idea of using the secondhand Mazda for "scootering" around town for leisure fun, rather then as a primary means of everyday commute transportation? Nowadays the Chinese language is heavily influenced by English / European expressions borne out of contemporary culture.  
> **username_3**: I wouldn't comment if he says "這一辆二手的马自达是我的代步车", although not perfect, it is acceptable :)  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2023-02-15. Score: 1

作为 = to be/ as

代步 (replace walking) = for transportation

车 = car

> 我想买一辆二手的马自达作为[**代步**]车

> I want to buy a used Mazda to be my [**transportation**] vehicle

代步 is an adjective for 车

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: my personal transportation vehicle is an e-bike. Yes, bicycles and e-bikes are vehicles too  

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