How to Say “I missed the train” in Chinese
Getting around · HSK 3
"I missed the train" in Chinese is 我错过了火车 (Wǒ cuòguò le huǒchē). 错过 (cuòguò) literally means 'wrong-pass' and is the go-to verb for missing a scheduled departure, an opportunity, or a chance. In Mainland China, 火车 usually means conventional trains, while high-speed rail is 高铁 (gāotiě); if you missed a bullet train, say 我错过了高铁.
Primary translation
我错过了火车
Wǒ cuòguò le huǒchē
Traditional: 我錯過了火車
Variants by register
Formal
我错过火车了
Wǒ cuòguò huǒchē le
When to use it
错过 (cuòguò) literally means 'wrong-pass' and is the go-to verb for missing a scheduled departure, an opportunity, or a chance. In Mainland China, 火车 usually means conventional trains, while high-speed rail is 高铁 (gāotiě); if you missed a bullet train, say 我错过了高铁. A subtle grammar point: 了 can go right after 错过 or at the end of the sentence; both sound natural. Don't use 丢 (diū, 'lose') here; that's for losing objects, not missing trains.
Example sentences
我错过了去上海的高铁，下一班是什么时候？
Wǒ cuòguò le qù Shànghǎi de gāotiě, xià yī bān shì shénme shíhou?
I missed the bullet train to Shanghai; when's the next one?
堵车太严重了，我们错过火车了。
Dǔchē tài yánzhòng le, wǒmen cuòguò huǒchē le.
The traffic was terrible; we missed the train.
如果你错过了这班车，可以改签下一班。
Rúguǒ nǐ cuòguò le zhè bān chē, kěyǐ gǎiqiān xià yī bān.
If you miss this train, you can change your ticket to the next one.