轮椅 (lún yǐ) literally means 'wheel chair' — 轮 (lún) means 'wheel' and 椅 (yǐ) means 'chair'. Together, they form a compound noun referring to a mobility device with wheels and a seat, typically used by people with temporary or permanent difficulty walking. It’s a standard, neutral term widely used in medical, public, and everyday contexts.

Wheelchairs may be manual (pushed by hand) or electric (motorized), and the word 轮椅 applies to both types. In China, accessibility signage often uses this term (e.g., 轮椅通道 for 'wheelchair access'), and it frequently appears in hospital settings, transportation announcements, and policy documents about inclusive design. Unlike more technical terms like 康复器械 (rehabilitation equipment), 轮椅 is simple, concrete, and universally understood across age groups and regions.