# 车水马龙

chē shuǐ mǎ lóng

A continuous stream of traffic

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Carriages flow like water and horses like dragons

**Traditional Chinese:** 車水馬龍

**Register:** Descriptive · literary

[Change & possibility](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/change)

## When to use it

Describe busy streets or entrances.

Usually traffic, not any large crowd.

## Understanding the expression

Flowing water and a long moving dragon both suggest an unbroken line. The phrase combines them into a lively scene of vehicles passing one after another. Modern use usually describes roads, city streets, or busy approaches to buildings. Horses and carriages need not be present; cars and buses carry the image today. It evokes movement and bustle rather than simply a row of vehicles standing still.

## Examples

夜晚街上车水马龙。

### Traditional Chinese

夜晚街上車水馬龍。

yè wǎn jiē shàng chē shuǐ mǎ lóng 。

Traffic streams through the streets at night.

酒店门前车水马龙。

### Traditional Chinese

酒店門前車水馬龍。

jiǔ diàn mén qián chē shuǐ mǎ lóng 。

There is a constant stream of traffic outside the hotel.

假日的沿海公路车水马龙。

### Traditional Chinese

假日的沿海公路車水馬龍。

jiǎ rì de yán hǎi gōng lù chē shuǐ mǎ lóng 。

The coastal road is busy with traffic on holidays.

这里从前安静，如今车水马龙。

### Traditional Chinese

這裡從前安靜，如今車水馬龍。

zhè lǐ cóng qián ān jìng ， rú jīn chē shuǐ mǎ lóng 。

Once quiet, this place now has constant traffic.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E8%BB%8A%E6%B0%B4%E9%A6%AC%E9%BE%8D)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=96&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [陈陈相因 chén chén xiāng yīn Repeat old patterns without renewal ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/chen-chen-xiang-yin)

- [重见天日 chóng jiàn tiān rì Emerge from confinement or obscurity ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/chong-jian-tian-ri)

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