运输 (yùn shū) is a compound word meaning 'transportation' or 'to transport' — the action of moving people, goods, or animals from one place to another. The first character 运 (yùn) means 'to move' or 'to carry', often implying effort or organized motion; the second character 输 (shū) means 'to deliver', 'to convey', or 'to transmit'. Together, they emphasize purposeful, systematic movement over distance — especially in logistics, infrastructure, and commerce.

This term is commonly used in formal, written, and professional contexts: government reports, news articles, business documents, and public signage (e.g., '禁止运输危险品'). While it can function as both a noun ('transportation') and a verb ('to transport'), it rarely appears alone in casual speech — native speakers more often use simpler verbs like 运 (yùn) or 送 (sòng) in everyday conversation. It frequently collocates with nouns indicating mode (e.g., 公路运输 'road transportation'), cargo (e.g., 货物运输 'freight transport'), or scale (e.g., 国际运输 'international transport').