Meaning and Usage
The word 跑道 (pǎodào) primarily refers to a 'runway' or 'track' where running or vehicles like airplanes operate. It is commonly used in contexts related to airports (airplane runways) and sports (athletic tracks).
Common Contexts
- Airport runway: 跑道 is the surface where airplanes take off and land. For example, 飞机在跑道上着陆 means 'the airplane landed on the runway.'
- Athletic track: It also refers to the track used in sports for running races.
Collocations and Patterns
- 跑道上 (on the runway/track): used to describe actions happening on the runway or track.
- 飞机跑道 (airplane runway): specifying the runway for airplanes.
- 跑道维护 (runway maintenance): used in technical or airport management contexts.
Usage Notes
跑道 is a concrete noun and is not used metaphorically. It is distinct from 路 (road) because it specifically refers to a designated surface for running or aircraft operations. Avoid confusing it with 跑步 (running as an action) or 道 (road/way) alone.
When talking about sports, 跑道 usually implies a marked track, often oval-shaped, for races. In aviation, it is a critical infrastructure term.
Summary
Use 跑道 when referring to physical tracks for running or airplane operations. It is a formal and specific term, important in sports and aviation vocabulary.