'乘客' (chéng kè) literally combines '乘' (to ride, to board) and '客' (guest, visitor), forming a compound noun meaning 'passenger' — someone who rides in a vehicle but does not operate it. It is a neutral, formal term used broadly across transportation contexts: buses, trains, airplanes, taxis, and even ferries or subways.

This word emphasizes the role of the person as a fare-paying or authorized rider rather than a driver or crew member. Unlike more colloquial terms like '搭车的人' (tā chē de rén), '乘客' appears frequently in official signage, announcements, safety instructions, and news reports. It carries no implication of status or relationship — a child, an elderly person, or a tourist all qualify equally as '乘客' when riding public transport.