【Car Knowledge】Common English Vocabulary for Auto Parts

🚗【Editor's Collection】Must-Remember for Hong Kong Car Owners – A Complete List of Common English Vocabulary for Auto Parts

In Hong Kong's car repair industry, English, Cantonese and industry terminology are mixed. Sometimes when you go to repair your car, the mechanic will tell you "the fan belt needs to be replaced" or "the brake pad thickness needs to be 3mm". If you don't understand what they are talking about, you can easily be confused.
Today, the editor has compiled a Hong Kong version of the English-Chinese vocabulary list for auto parts , along with usage and maintenance tips, so you can communicate with the mechanics with zero difficulty when you go to the garage.

🚗 Auto Parts Quick Reference Chart (English-Chinese) (Hong Kong Edition)

Engine System

English Cantonese name Main Features
Engine Engine/Machine Providing power
Cylinder Head cylinder head Accommodates valve components
Spark Plug Fire nozzle Ignite the gasoline mixture
Glow Plug Glow plug (diesel) Assisting diesel engine cold start
Timing Belt / Chain Timing belt/timing chain Control valve opening and closing timing
Fuel Injector fuel injectors Atomize the fuel and spray it into the cylinder
Turbocharger (Turbo) turbocharger Increase air intake to increase power

Cooling System

English Cantonese name Main Features
Radiator water tank Dissipate engine heat
Water Pump water pump Promote coolant circulation
Thermostat thermostat Control coolant flow temperature
Cooling Fan cooling fan Auxiliary heat dissipation

Fuel & Exhaust

English Cantonese name Main Features
Fuel Pump oil pump Delivers fuel to the engine
Fuel Filter Oil filter/filter element Filter fuel impurities
Exhaust Manifold exhaust manifold Collect and export exhaust gas
Catalytic Converter Three-way catalytic converter Reduce harmful gas emissions
Muffler muffler Reduce exhaust noise
DPF Diesel particulate filter Filtering diesel exhaust particulates

Transmission & Drivetrain

English Cantonese name Main Features
Clutch clutch Engage/disengage power transmission
Gearbox / Transmission gearbox Speed Shifter
Drive Shaft transmission shaft Transmitting power to the wheels
Differential differential Distribute power to left and right wheels

Suspension & Steering

English Cantonese name Main Features
Shock Absorber Shock absorber/compression cylinder Absorb shock
Spring slingshot Support vehicle weight
Control Arm rocker arm Connecting the frame and wheels
Tie Rod tie rod Control steering
Power Steering Pump Power steering pump Provides steering assistance

Brake System

English Cantonese name Main Features
Brake Pad brake pads Friction brake with disc
Brake Disc / Rotor brake discs Provide friction surface
Brake Caliper calipers Clamp the brake pads
Brake Fluid brake fluid Transmit braking force
ABS Sensor Anti-lock sensor Prevent wheel lock

Body & Electrical

English Cantonese name Main Features
Battery Battery Startup and power supply
Alternator dynamo Charge the battery
Fuse fuse Prevent circuit overload
Relay relay Control circuit switch
Headlight headlamp illumination
Tail Light taillight Prompt the following vehicle
Turn Signal Turn signal Issue direction prompts

1️⃣ Engine System

English name Cantonese name Main Features Common maintenance points in Hong Kong
Engine Engine/Machine Providing power Change the engine oil regularly to avoid overheating
Cylinder Head cylinder head Accommodates valve components Pay attention to the water temperature to avoid explosion
Spark Plug Fire nozzle Ignite the gasoline mixture Replace every 30,000-50,000 km, or use a high-end model to extend the service life
Glow Plug Glow plug (diesel) Cold start heating Cold weather or diesel vehicles require inspection
Timing Belt / Chain Timing belt/timing chain Control valve opening and closing timing The belt should be replaced after about 80,000-100,000 km, and the chain is more durable
Fuel Injector fuel injectors Atomize the fuel and spray it into the cylinder Use good oil and clean carbon deposits regularly
Turbocharger (Turbo) turbocharger Increase air intake and horsepower Idle the car for 30 seconds to 1 minute to dissipate heat before shutting down.

2️⃣ Cooling System

English name Cantonese name Main Features Common maintenance points in Hong Kong
Radiator water tank Dissipate engine heat Change the water in the water tank (coolant) regularly
Water Pump water pump Promote coolant circulation Listen for any unusual sound of water leakage
Thermostat thermostat Control cooling water flow temperature If it breaks, it will overheat or the heating will be ineffective.
Cooling Fan cooling fan Auxiliary heat dissipation Pay attention to the health of the fan motor

3️⃣ Fuel & Exhaust System

English name Cantonese name Function Maintenance points
Fuel Pump oil pump Pilot oil to the engine Keep sufficient fuel to prevent the fuel pump from idling
Fuel Filter Oil filter/filter element Filter out impurities Replace regularly depending on driving conditions
Exhaust Manifold exhaust manifold Collect and export exhaust gas Pay attention to whether there is a loud leak or noise
Catalytic Converter Three-way catalytic converter Reduce harmful gases Use qualified gasoline to avoid carbon plugs
Muffler muffler Reduce exhaust noise The explosion will make a loud noise and will fail the vehicle inspection.
DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) Diesel particulate filter Filter diesel black smoke Diesel vehicles require long-distance high-temperature regeneration maintenance

4️⃣ Transmission & Drivetrain

English name Cantonese name Function Maintenance points
Clutch clutch Engage/disengage power (manual wave) Develop good habits when riding the wave to avoid half-clutch
Gearbox / Transmission gearbox Speed Shifter Change the gearbox oil regularly. For home automatic transmission, it is recommended to change the gearbox oil within 40,000-60,000 km.
Drive Shaft transmission shaft Transmit power to the wheels Check whether the universal joint rubber sleeve has cracks
Differential differential Distribute power to left and right wheels Four-wheel drive vehicles need regular oil changes

5️⃣ Suspension & Steering

English name Cantonese name Function Maintenance points
Shock Absorber Compression cylinder/shock absorber Absorb shock If there is oil leakage or vibration, it needs to be replaced
Spring slingshot Support vehicle weight High-load vehicles need to be checked for deformation
Control Arm rocker arm Connecting the frame and wheels There will be abnormal sound when the rubber sleeve is damaged
Tie Rod tie rod Control tire steering Loose will make the direction empty
Power Steering Pump Power steering pump Provides steering assistance Ensure sufficient oil

6. Brake System

English name Cantonese name Function Maintenance points
Brake Pad brake pads Friction brake with disc Replace after 30,000-50,000 km or when thickness is less than 3mm
Brake Disc / Rotor brake discs Provide friction surface Pay attention to any scratches or deformation
Brake Caliper calipers Push the brake pads to clamp the disc Check the sliding function regularly
Brake Fluid brake fluid Transmit braking force Replace it every 2 years, the water absorption will fail
ABS Sensor Anti-lock sensor Detect wheel speed to prevent lock When the test light comes on, maintenance starts.

7️⃣ Body & Electrical

English name Cantonese name Function Maintenance points
Battery Battery Start power supply Replace every 2-3 years and pay attention to the voltage
Alternator dynamo Charge the battery There is an abnormal sound/the light is on and needs to be repaired
Fuse fuse Prevent circuit overload If it burns frequently, you should find the cause of the short circuit.
Relay relay Control circuit switch Check first if the specified device fails
Headlight headlamp illumination Check brightness and focus regularly
Tail Light taillight Prompt the following vehicle A broken light bulb needs to be replaced immediately
Indicator / Turn Signal Turn signal Send direction signals The light flashes at an abnormally high speed because the light bulb is burned out.

8️⃣ Examples of common maintenance conversations in Hong Kong

  • "Your water pump is leaking. You need to schedule a replacement next time."
    → This means the water pump is leaking coolant and needs to be replaced as soon as possible.

  • "The brake pad has dropped to the warning line. If I don't change it, the brake disc will be damaged."
    → If the brake pads are worn to the limit, they will scratch the discs, which will double the repair costs.

  • "The fan belt is starting to crack, affecting alternator power generation."
    → A aging fan belt may cause power failure.

9️⃣ Editor's memory method sharing

  1. Functional classification : first divide it into engine, cooling, transmission, braking, circuit, etc., and then memorize it in English.
  2. Scene memory method : Think back to the last maintenance experience and put the English name into the experience.
  3. Physical observation method : open the hood and look directly at the parts to learn, take pictures and add Chinese and English text for notes.

🔍 Summary

For Hong Kong car owners, knowing English for parts not only makes it easier to shop for parts, buy affordable aftermarket parts, and find overseas information, but it also allows you to communicate more accurately with mechanics and reduce the risk of being "stuck in the sale."
Remember, the editor’s motto is: “ Function + location = English name ”. Once you learn this, you won’t be afraid of people talking nonsense next time you go to the garage.

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