汽车(automobile)
一种主要为客货运输设计的自动推进车辆，一般为四轮，通常由使用挥发性燃料的内燃机（internal combustion engine）驱动。现代汽车是由约一万四千多个零件组成，可区分为几个结构和机械系统，其中包括：钢制车身，含容纳乘客和储物的空间，安置在底盘或钢架上；汽油内燃机，藉由传动器（变速器）发动汽车；转向驾驶和制动系统，控制车子的动作；电子系统，包括蓄电池、交流发电机和其他装置。其他一些重要的系统包括：燃料、排气、润滑、冷却、悬吊和轮胎系统等。虽然在18和19世纪中叶已建造实验性的交通工具，但商业性生产一直要到1880年代戴姆勒（Gottlieb Daimler, 1863～1928）和宾士（Karl Benz）两人於德国分别制造汽车才开始。在美国，詹姆斯.帕卡德（James Packard）、威廉.帕卡德（William Packard, 1861～1923）和奥斯（Ransom Olds, 1864～1950）算是第一批汽车制造业者，到了1898年美国就有五十家汽车制造厂。早期一些汽车是以蒸气机发动的，如1902年左右史坦利兄弟（Francis E. and Freelan O. Stanley）所做的。福特采用内燃机，1908年推出T型汽车（Model T.），不久，更以装配线（assembly line）生产而进行了一次工业革命。1930年代欧洲制造商开始制造小型而人人买得起的汽车，如福斯汽车（Volk swagen）。1950年代和1960年代，美国则倾向生产大型和豪华的汽车，加上更自动化的配备。到了1970年代、1980年代，日本汽车制造商出口小型、经济又实用的汽车到世界各地，其日渐风靡的程度迫使美国制造商生产同一类型的车款。亦请参阅axle、brake、bus、carburetor、electric automobile、fuel injection、motorcycle、truck。
English version：
automobile
Four-wheeled automotive vehicle designed for passenger transportation, commonly propelled by an internal combustion engine using a volatile fuel. The modern automobile consists of about 14,000 parts, divided into several structural and mechanical systems. These include the steel body, containing the passenger and storage space, which sits on the chassis or steel frame; the internal combustion gasoline engine, which powers the car by means of a transmission; the steering and braking systems, which control the car's motion; and the electrical system, which includes a battery, alternator, and other devices. Subsystems involve fuel, exhaust, lubrication, cooling, suspension, and tires. Though experimental vehicles were built in the 18th and mid-19th century, not until the 1880s did Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz in Germany begin separately to manufacture cars commercially. In the U.S., James and William Packard (1863-1928, 1861-1923) and Ransom Olds (1864-1950) were among the first auto manufacturers, and by 1898 there were 50 U.S. manufacturers. Some early cars operated by steam engine, such as those made from c. 1902 by Francis E. and Freelan O. Stanley. The internal combustion engine was used by Henry Ford when he introduced the Model T in 1908; Ford would soon revolutionize the industry with his use of the assembly line. In the 1930s European manufacturers began to make small, affordable cars such as the Volkswagen. In the 1950s and '60s, U.S. automakers produced larger, more luxurious cars with more automatic features. In the 1970s and '80s Japanese manufacturers exported their small, reliable, fuel-efficient cars worldwide, and their increasing popularity spurred U.S. automakers to produce similar models. See also axle, brake, bus, carburetor, electric automobile, fuel injection, motorcycle, truck.