Technology And Devices Vocabulary In Chinese
Learn the Chinese you actually need for phones, apps, laptops, chargers, updates, and all the tiny digital disasters of modern life: 科技和设备词汇 kējì hé shèbèi cíhuì.
If your Chinese currently stops at 手机 shǒujī and maybe Wi-Fi, that is a start, but it is not a glorious one. This guide gives you high-use technology and device words in simplified Chinese, with pinyin, English meanings, and real sentences you can steal immediately.
The goal is simple: talk about your phone, computer, internet, apps, passwords, and the classic “why is this thing not working” moment without sounding like you are pointing vaguely at a glowing rectangle and hoping for the best.
Quick Tech Cards
手机 shǒujī
phone
电脑 diànnǎo
computer
平板电脑 píngbǎn diànnǎo
tablet
耳机 ěrjī
headphones
屏幕 píngmù
screen
充电器 chōngdiànqì
charger
应用 yìngyòng
app
下载 xiàzài
download
Useful Phrases And Real-Life Sentences
我的手机没电了。 Wǒ de shǒujī méi diàn le. — My phone is out of battery.
你的无线网密码是多少？ Nǐ de wúxiànwǎng mìmǎ shì duōshao? — What is the Wi-Fi password?
请先打开蓝牙。 Qǐng xiān dǎkāi lányá. — Please turn on Bluetooth first.
我想下载这个应用。 Wǒ xiǎng xiàzài zhège yìngyòng. — I want to download this app.
请把文件发给我。 Qǐng bǎ wénjiàn fā gěi wǒ. — Please send me the file.
走之前别忘了关机。 Zǒu zhīqián bié wàng le guānjī. — Do not forget to shut it down before you leave.
我的耳机连不上。 Wǒ de ěrjī lián bú shàng. — My headphones will not connect.
这张照片太大了。 Zhè zhāng zhàopiàn tài dà le. — This photo is too large.
你能帮我更新软件吗？ Nǐ néng bāng wǒ gēngxīn ruǎnjiàn ma? — Can you help me update the software?
路由器在桌子下面。 Lùyóuqì zài zhuōzi xiàmiàn. — The router is under the desk.
我想把视频上传到网站。 Wǒ xiǎng bǎ shìpín shàngchuán dào wǎngzhàn. — I want to upload the video to the website.
你给我发个截图吧。 Nǐ gěi wǒ fā ge jiétú ba. — Send me a screenshot.
这个网页今天有点卡。 Zhège wǎngyè jīntiān yǒudiǎn kǎ. — This webpage is a bit laggy today.
我还没收到验证码。 Wǒ hái méi shōudào yànzhèngmǎ. — I still have not received the verification code.
Tiny Notes That Save Big Headaches
- 电脑 diànnǎo is a general word for computer. 笔记本电脑 bǐjìběn diànnǎo is a laptop, and 台式电脑 táishì diànnǎo is a desktop computer.
- 下载 xiàzài means download, from the internet to your device. 上传 shàngchuán means upload, from your device to the internet. Tiny words, big difference.
- 账号 zhànghào is an account, 密码 mìmǎ is a password, and 验证码 yànzhèngmǎ is a verification code. One gets you in, one protects you, and one annoys you for thirty seconds.
- 无线网 wúxiànwǎng is a natural everyday way to say Wi-Fi. 网络 wǎngluò is broader and can mean network or internet more generally.
Tables Of Words
Core Devices
| Hanzi | Pinyin | Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 手机 | shǒujī | phone | 我每天用手机看新闻。 | Wǒ měitiān yòng shǒujī kàn xīnwén. | I use my phone to read news every day. |
| 电脑 | diànnǎo | computer | 我的电脑今天有点慢。 | Wǒ de diànnǎo jīntiān yǒudiǎn màn. | My computer is a bit slow today. |
| 笔记本电脑 | bǐjìběn diànnǎo | laptop | 她把笔记本电脑带到办公室了。 | Tā bǎ bǐjìběn diànnǎo dài dào bàngōngshì le. | She brought her laptop to the office. |
| 平板电脑 | píngbǎn diànnǎo | tablet | 我爸爸用平板电脑看节目。 | Wǒ bàba yòng píngbǎn diànnǎo kàn jiémù. | My dad uses a tablet to watch shows. |
| 耳机 | ěrjī | headphones | 我把耳机忘在地铁上了。 | Wǒ bǎ ěrjī wàng zài dìtiě shàng le. | I forgot my headphones on the subway. |
| 充电器 | chōngdiànqì | charger | 你有手机充电器吗？ | Nǐ yǒu shǒujī chōngdiànqì ma? | Do you have a phone charger? |
Parts And Accessories
| Hanzi | Pinyin | Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 屏幕 | píngmù | screen | 这个屏幕太亮了。 | Zhège píngmù tài liàng le. | This screen is too bright. |
| 键盘 | jiànpán | keyboard | 我的键盘现在很干净。 | Wǒ de jiànpán xiànzài hěn gānjìng. | My keyboard is very clean now. |
| 鼠标 | shǔbiāo | mouse | 他的鼠标在电脑右边。 | Tā de shǔbiāo zài diànnǎo yòubiān. | His mouse is on the right side of the computer. |
| 电池 | diànchí | battery | 电池快没电了。 | Diànchí kuài méi diàn le. | The battery is almost dead. |
| 数据线 | shùjùxiàn | data cable | 这条数据线可以充电，也可以传文件。 | Zhè tiáo shùjùxiàn kěyǐ chōngdiàn, yě kěyǐ chuán wénjiàn. | This cable can charge and transfer files. |
| 手机壳 | shǒujīké | phone case | 我买了一个蓝色的手机壳。 | Wǒ mǎi le yí ge lánsè de shǒujīké. | I bought a blue phone case. |
Power And Connections
| Hanzi | Pinyin | Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 无线网 | wúxiànwǎng | Wi-Fi | 酒店的无线网很快。 | Jiǔdiàn de wúxiànwǎng hěn kuài. | The hotel Wi-Fi is fast. |
| 蓝牙 | lányá | Bluetooth | 请先打开蓝牙。 | Qǐng xiān dǎkāi lányá. | Please turn on Bluetooth first. |
| 网络 | wǎngluò | network; internet | 这个房间的网络不太稳定。 | Zhège fángjiān de wǎngluò bú tài wěndìng. | The network in this room is not very stable. |
| 信号 | xìnhào | signal | 电梯里没有信号。 | Diàntī lǐ méiyǒu xìnhào. | There is no signal in the elevator. |
| 插头 | chātóu | plug | 这个插头太大了。 | Zhège chātóu tài dà le. | This plug is too big. |
| 插座 | chāzuò | power outlet | 插座在桌子后面。 | Chāzuò zài zhuōzi hòumiàn. | The outlet is behind the desk. |
Apps, Software, And Accounts
| Hanzi | Pinyin | Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 应用 | yìngyòng | app | 这个应用很好用。 | Zhège yìngyòng hěn hǎoyòng. | This app is easy to use. |
| 软件 | ruǎnjiàn | software | 我得更新这个软件。 | Wǒ děi gēngxīn zhège ruǎnjiàn. | I need to update this software. |
| 硬件 | yìngjiàn | hardware | 这台电脑的硬件很旧。 | Zhè tái diànnǎo de yìngjiàn hěn jiù. | The hardware on this computer is old. |
| 文件 | wénjiàn | file; document | 请把文件发到我的邮箱。 | Qǐng bǎ wénjiàn fā dào wǒ de yóuxiāng. | Please send the file to my email inbox. |
| 密码 | mìmǎ | password | 我又忘记密码了。 | Wǒ yòu wàngjì mìmǎ le. | I forgot my password again. |
| 账号 | zhànghào | account | 这是我的工作账号。 | Zhè shì wǒ de gōngzuò zhànghào. | This is my work account. |
Online Media And Communication
| Hanzi | Pinyin | Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 网站 | wǎngzhàn | website | 我在那个网站上看到新闻。 | Wǒ zài nàge wǎngzhàn shàng kàndào xīnwén. | I saw the news on that website. |
| 网页 | wǎngyè | webpage | 这个网页打开得很慢。 | Zhège wǎngyè dǎkāi de hěn màn. | This webpage opens very slowly. |
| 视频 | shìpín | video | 他每天晚上都看做饭视频。 | Tā měitiān wǎnshang dōu kàn zuòfàn shìpín. | He watches cooking videos every night. |
| 照片 | zhàopiàn | photo | 我把照片存到手机里了。 | Wǒ bǎ zhàopiàn cún dào shǒujī lǐ le. | I saved the photo on my phone. |
| 直播 | zhíbō | live stream | 我们一起看了直播。 | Wǒmen yìqǐ kàn le zhíbō. | We watched the live stream together. |
| 聊天 | liáotiān | to chat | 他们在群里聊天。 | Tāmen zài qún lǐ liáotiān. | They are chatting in the group. |
Common Actions
| Hanzi | Pinyin | Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 开机 | kāijī | turn on; boot up | 先给电脑开机。 | Xiān gěi diànnǎo kāijī. | Turn on the computer first. |
| 关机 | guānjī | shut down | 走之前请把笔记本电脑关机。 | Zǒu zhīqián qǐng bǎ bǐjìběn diànnǎo guānjī. | Please shut down your laptop before you leave. |
| 充电 | chōngdiàn | charge | 我的手表现在在充电。 | Wǒ de shǒubiǎo xiànzài zài chōngdiàn. | My watch is charging now. |
| 下载 | xiàzài | download | 我想下载这个游戏。 | Wǒ xiǎng xiàzài zhège yóuxì. | I want to download this game. |
| 上传 | shàngchuán | upload | 她今天早上上传了视频。 | Tā jīntiān zǎoshang shàngchuán le shìpín. | She uploaded the video this morning. |
| 连接 | liánjiē | connect | 你的手机可以连接音箱。 | Nǐ de shǒujī kěyǐ liánjiē yīnxiāng. | Your phone can connect to the speaker. |
Common Problems
| Hanzi | Pinyin | Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 死机 | sǐjī | freeze; crash | 开会的时候，我的电脑死机了。 | Kāihuì de shíhou, wǒ de diànnǎo sǐjī le. | My computer froze during the meeting. |
| 卡 | kǎ | laggy; to freeze up | 这个应用今天有点卡。 | Zhège yìngyòng jīntiān yǒudiǎn kǎ. | This app is a bit laggy today. |
| 没电 | méi diàn | out of battery | 我的手机现在没电了。 | Wǒ de shǒujī xiànzài méi diàn le. | My phone is out of battery now. |
| 断网 | duànwǎng | lose internet connection | 我们断网十分钟了。 | Wǒmen duànwǎng shí fēnzhōng le. | We have had no internet for ten minutes. |
| 黑屏 | hēipíng | black screen | 我的平板电脑突然黑屏了。 | Wǒ de píngbǎn diànnǎo tūrán hēipíng le. | My tablet suddenly went black. |
| 更新 | gēngxīn | update | 今天又有更新了。 | Jīntiān yòu yǒu gēngxīn le. | There is another update today. |
Smart Home And Office Devices
| Hanzi | Pinyin | Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 智能手表 | zhìnéng shǒubiǎo | smartwatch | 她的智能手表可以记步数。 | Tā de zhìnéng shǒubiǎo kěyǐ jì bùshù. | Her smartwatch can count steps. |
| 智能音箱 | zhìnéng yīnxiāng | smart speaker | 智能音箱在客厅里。 | Zhìnéng yīnxiāng zài kètīng lǐ. | The smart speaker is in the living room. |
| 电视遥控器 | diànshì yáokòngqì | TV remote | 电视遥控器在哪儿？ | Diànshì yáokòngqì zài nǎr? | Where is the TV remote? |
| 摄像头 | shèxiàngtóu | camera; webcam | 请打开你的摄像头。 | Qǐng dǎkāi nǐ de shèxiàngtóu. | Please turn on your camera. |
| 打印机 | dǎyìnjī | printer | 我们的打印机没纸了。 | Wǒmen de dǎyìnjī méi zhǐ le. | Our printer is out of paper. |
| 路由器 | lùyóuqì | router | 路由器在桌子下面。 | Lùyóuqì zài zhuōzi xiàmiàn. | The router is under the desk. |
Bonus Everyday Tech Words
| Hanzi | Pinyin | Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 电子邮件 | diànzǐ yóujiàn | 我给你发了电子邮件。 | Wǒ gěi nǐ fā le diànzǐ yóujiàn. | I sent you an email. | |
| 云盘 | yúnpán | cloud drive | 这个资料存在云盘里。 | Zhège zīliào cún zài yúnpán lǐ. | This material is saved on the cloud drive. |
| 扫码 | sǎomǎ | scan a code | 请扫码登录。 | Qǐng sǎomǎ dēnglù. | Please scan the code to log in. |
| 截图 | jiétú | screenshot | 你能给我发个截图吗？ | Nǐ néng gěi wǒ fā ge jiétú ma? | Can you send me a screenshot? |
| 台式电脑 | táishì diànnǎo | desktop computer | 办公室里我们还用台式电脑。 | Bàngōngshì lǐ wǒmen hái yòng táishì diànnǎo. | We still use desktop computers in the office. |
| 验证码 | yànzhèngmǎ | verification code | 我还没收到验证码。 | Wǒ hái méi shōudào yànzhèngmǎ. | I still have not received the verification code. |
Yak Box
One fast upgrade for your Chinese: stop calling every device 电脑 diànnǎo. A phone is 手机 shǒujī, a tablet is 平板电脑 píngbǎn diànnǎo, and a laptop is 笔记本电脑 bǐjìběn diànnǎo. Tiny correction, instantly better.
Try this mini challenge out loud: 我的手机没电了，所以我要找充电器。 Wǒ de shǒujī méi diàn le, suǒyǐ wǒ yào zhǎo chōngdiànqì. — My phone is out of battery, so I need to find a charger.
