Chinese word

总机

Pronunciation

Pinyinzǒng jī

Meaning

  • nounmain line

Example

请拨公司的总机，我要找王经理。qǐng bō gōng sī de zǒng jī wǒ yào zhǎo wáng jīng lǐ

Please call the company's main line. I need to speak to Manager Wang.

Illustration for 总机 (main line)

More examples

如果不知道分机号，可以先联系总机询问。rú guǒ bù zhī dào fēn jī hào ké yǐ xiān lián xì zǒng jī xún wèn

If you do not know the extension number, contact the switchboard first to ask.

Core concept

A central phone point where an organization's incoming calls are gathered and sent on to the right person or extension.

Common phrases

  • 拨打总机号码bō dǎ zǒng jī hào mǎ

    dial the main line number

  • 查询总机号码chá xún zǒng jī hào mǎ

    look up the main line number

  • 总机接线员zǒng jī jiē xiàn yuán

    main-line operator

Similar words

分机fēn jī: A direct internal number for reaching a particular employee or department.
内线nèi xiàn: A phone line or number used for calls between people in an organization.
接线员jiē xiàn yuán: A person who takes calls and puts callers through to the right employee.
前台qián tái: The place or staff at a company that welcomes visitors and handles calls.

Definition in Chinese

在公司或机构中用于统筹来电、提供转接与查询分机的电话服务或该服务对应的号码与设备。zài gōng sī huò jī gòu zhōng yòng yú tǒng chóu lái diàn tí gōng zhuǎn jiē yǔ chá xún fēn jī de diàn huà fú wù huò gāi fú wù duì yìng de hào mǎ yǔ shè bèi

Word origin

The compound 总 (zǒng, "overall") + 机 (jī, "machine") names the central telephone equipment and extends to the service or number connected with it.

Usage tips

  • A workplace caller can often give the person's name or department when an extension number is unknown, which makes this term useful even before any number lookup.

Other meanings

  • switchboardnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word