Black cab
BLAK KAB /blæk kæb/
Informal Neutral
What it really means
The famous official London taxi (they are not always black now). You can hail one in the street when its yellow TAXI light is on. They use a meter and drivers must pass "the Knowledge". More expensive than Uber, but reliable.
Chinese explanation
伦敦著名的正规出租车（现在不一定是黑色）。车顶黄色TAXI灯亮着时可在街上招手拦车。按计价器收费，司机必须通过"the Knowledge"考试。比Uber贵，但可靠。
Example conversation
A: The light on that black cab is on. Stick your arm out!
B: Taxi! ... Kings Cross station, please.
A：那辆黑色出租车的灯亮着，快招手！
B：出租车！……请到国王十字车站。
Official sources
Rules and amounts change — confirm important details with the official source.
All Transport
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake