Grammar · Chapter 8
乘坐, 返回: the formal twins of everyday verbs
坐 → 乘坐 · 回 → 返回 · 去 → 前往 · 买 → 购买
In notices, news and letters an everyday verb becomes a two-syllable one: 坐 → 乘坐, 回 → 返回, 去 → 前往, 买 → 购买. Same meaning, official tone. Friends don't talk like this: 我乘坐地铁回家 sounds like a subway announcement.
Examples
- 我们乘坐飞机前往北京。 Wǒmen chéngzuò fēijī qiánwǎng Běijīng. We are flying to Beijing.
- 请马上返回。 Qǐng mǎshàng fǎnhuí. Please come back at once.
- 我们在网上购买了火车票。 Wǒmen zài wǎngshang gòumǎi le huǒchē piào. We bought our train tickets online.