Chinese word

手机

Pronunciation

Pinyinshǒu jī

Meaning

  • nouncell phone

Example

我的手机没电了。wǒ de shǒu jī méi diàn le

My cell phone has run out of power.

Illustration for 手机 (cell phone)

More examples

他用手机给朋友发信息。tā yòng shǒu jī gěi péng yǒu fā xìn xī

He uses his cell phone to text his friend.

Core concept

A small handheld machine for communicating with people and accessing information and digital services.

Common phrases

  • 手机没电shǒu jī méi diàn

    cell phone runs out of power

  • 手机响了shǒu jī xiǎng le

    cell phone rings

  • 拿手机ná shǒu jī

    hold a cell phone

Similar words

电话diàn huà: A communication device or service that allows people to speak by voice.
手机号码shǒu jī hào mǎ: A sequence of digits that identifies a mobile phone and allows it to be contacted.

Definition in Chinese

指便于携带的移动通信设备，通常用于语音通话、短信以及运行应用和移动支付等功能。zhǐ biàn yú xié dài de yí dòng tōng xìn shè bèi tōng cháng yòng yú yǔ yīn tōng huà duǎn xìn yǐ jí yùn xíng yìng yòng hé yí dòng zhī fù děng gōng néng

Word origin

手机 (shǒujī, "cell phone") combines 手 (shǒu, "hand") with 机 (jī, "machine"), naming a machine designed to be carried and used in the hand.

Usage tips

  • A phone can be part of a shopping routine in China, where a store payment may involve scanning a code with the device.

Other meanings

  • smartphonenoun

Opposites

  • 固定电话gù dìng diàn huàlandlinenoun

Related words

Word lists with this word