Chinese word

私信

Pronunciation

Pinyinsī xìn

Meaning

  • noundirect message

Example

他在群里问问题，后来私下给我发了私信。tā zài qún lǐ wèn wèn tí hòu lái sī xià géi wǒ fā le sī xìn

He asked a question in the group, then sent me a private message.

Illustration for 私信 (direct message)

More examples

我刚收到一条私信，要不要现在回复？wǒ gāng shōu dào yì tiáo sī xìn yào bú yào xiàn zài huí fù

I just received a direct message. Should I reply now?

Core concept

A private message sent through a social platform or chat service to one chosen person instead of a public audience.

Common phrases

  • 发私信fā sī xìn

    send a direct message

  • 收到私信shōu dào sī xìn

    receive a direct message

  • 回复私信huí fù sī xìn

    reply to a direct message

  • 查看私信chá kàn sī xìn

    check a direct message

Similar words

私聊sī liáo: A personal one-to-one chat and its message exchange.
消息xiāo xī: A message that gives information about news or an event.
短信duǎn xìn: A brief text sent to a mobile phone number.

Definition in Chinese

通过社交平台或即时通信工具向特定对象单独发送的消息，通常不在公开空间展示，强调针对性和隐私性。tōng guò shè jiāo píng tái huò jí shí tōng xìn gōng jù xiàng tè dìng duì xiàng dān dú fā sòng de xiāo xī tōng cháng bú zài gōng kāi kōng jiān zhǎn shì qiáng diào zhēn duì xìng hé yǐn sī xìng

Word origin

私信 (sīxìn, "direct message") combines 私 (sī, "private") with 信 (xìn, "message"), applying the older idea of a private message to online communication.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, 私信 (sīxìn, "direct message") can also function as a verb, while 私信我 (sīxìn wǒ, "message me") means to contact the speaker privately.

Opposites

  • 群消息qún xiāo xīgroup messagenoun

Related words

  • 私信箱sī xìn xiāngdirect-message inboxnoun

Word lists with this word