In today’s digital age, knowing basic computer-related vocabulary in Chinese is essential for both beginners and advanced learners. Whether you’re troubleshooting a technical issue, following online tutorials, or simply chatting with friends about tech, these terms will come in handy.
How to say computer in Chinese?
- 计算机 (jì suàn jī) – The formal and most widely used term for “computer” in Chinese, applicable in both academic and daily contexts.
- 电脑 (diàn nǎo) – A more casual and colloquial term, literally translating to “electric brain,” commonly used in everyday speech.
- Example: 我用计算机写报告。 (Wǒ yòng jì suàn jī xiě bào gào.) – I write reports using a computer.
Below is a comprehensive list of 20+ commonly used computer words in Chinese, complete with pinyin, English interpretations, and example sentences to help you understand their usage in context.
1. 复制 (fù zhì) – Copy
Meaning: To duplicate text, files, or data.
Example Sentences:
- 请复制这段文字并粘贴到文档里。 (Qǐng fù zhì zhè duàn wénzì bìng zhān tiē dào wéndàng lǐ.)
Please copy this text and paste it into the document. - 我复制了文件到U盘。 (Wǒ fù zhì le wénjiàn dào U pán.)
I copied the files to the USB drive.
2. 粘贴 (zhān tiē) – Paste
Meaning: To insert copied content into a new location.
Example Sentences:
- 按Ctrl+V可以粘贴。 (Àn Ctrl+V kěyǐ zhān tiē.)
Press Ctrl+V to paste. - 她把图片粘贴到了PPT里。 (Tā bǎ túpiàn zhān tiē dào le PPT lǐ.)
She pasted the image into the PowerPoint presentation.
3. 剪切 (jiǎn qiē) – Cut
Meaning: To remove content from one location and move it elsewhere.
Example Sentences:
- 请剪切这段文字并粘贴到另一页。 (Qǐng jiǎn qiē zhè duàn wénzì bìng zhān tiē dào lìng yī yè.)
Please cut this text and paste it onto another page. - 他剪切了整个文件夹。 (Tā jiǎn qiē le zhěnggè wénjiànjiā.)
He cut the entire folder.
4. 保存 (bǎo cún) – Save
Meaning: To store a file or document for future use.
Example Sentences:
- 记得定期保存你的工作。 (Jìde dìngqī bǎo cún nǐ de gōngzuò.)
Remember to save your work regularly. - 这个文件需要另存为。 (Zhège wénjiàn xūyào lìng cún wéi.)
This file needs to be saved as a different version.
5. 打开 (dǎ kāi) – Open
Meaning: To access a file, application, or website.
Example Sentences:
- 请打开浏览器。 (Qǐng dǎ kāi liúlǎnqì.)
Please open the browser. - 我打不开这个压缩文件。 (Wǒ dǎ bù kāi zhège yāsuō wénjiàn.)
I can’t open this compressed file.
6. 关闭 (guān bì) – Close
Meaning: To exit or shut down a program or window.
Example Sentences:
- 关闭所有不必要的窗口。 (Guān bì suǒyǒu bù bìyào de chuāngkǒu.)
Close all unnecessary windows. - 记得关闭电脑再离开。 (Jìde guān bì diànnǎo zài líkāi.)
Remember to turn off the computer before leaving.
7. 删除 (shān chú) – Delete
Meaning: To remove a file, text, or object permanently.
Example Sentences:
- 请删除这些重复的文件。 (Qǐng shān chú zhèxiē chóngfù de wénjiàn.)
Please delete these duplicate files. - 我误删了重要的照片。 (Wǒ wù shān le zhòngyào de zhàopiàn.)
I accidentally deleted important photos.
8. 下载 (xià zài) – Download
Meaning: To transfer data from the internet to a local device.
Example Sentences:
- 我正在下载更新。 (Wǒ zhèngzài xià zài gēngxīn.)
I’m downloading the update. - 这个软件需要从官网下载。 (Zhège ruǎnjiàn xūyào cóng guānwǎng xià zài.)
This software needs to be downloaded from the official website.
9. 上传 (shàng chuán) – Upload
Meaning: To transfer data from a local device to the internet or a server.
Example Sentences:
- 请上传你的作业到系统。 (Qǐng shàng chuán nǐ de zuòyè dào xìtǒng.)
Please upload your homework to the system. - 她上传了视频到YouTube。 (Tā shàng chuán le shìpín dào YouTube.)
She uploaded the video to YouTube.
10. 刷新 (shuā xīn) – Refresh
Meaning: To reload a webpage or update data.
Example Sentences:
- 按F5可以刷新页面。 (Àn F5 kěyǐ shuā xīn yèmiàn.)
Press F5 to refresh the page. - 我的网络很慢，需要刷新。 (Wǒ de wǎngluò hěn màn, xūyào shuā xīn.)
My internet is slow; I need to refresh.
11. 重启 (chóng qǐ) – Restart
Meaning: To reboot a computer or device.
Example Sentences:
- 电脑卡住了，需要重启。 (Diànnǎo kǎ zhù le, xūyào chóng qǐ.)
The computer is frozen; it needs a restart. - 请重启路由器试试。 (Qǐng chóng qǐ lùyóuqì shì shì.)
Please restart the router and try again.
12. 登录 (dēng lù) – Log in / Sign in
Meaning: To access an account or system.
Example Sentences:
- 请输入用户名和密码登录。 (Qǐng shūrù yònghùmíng hé mìmǎ dēng lù.)
Please enter your username and password to log in. - 我无法登录我的邮箱。 (Wǒ wúfǎ dēng lù wǒ de yóujiāng.)
I can’t log in to my email.
13. 注销 (zhù xiāo) – Log out / Sign out
Meaning: To exit an account or session.
Example Sentences:
- 使用完毕后请注销账号。 (Shǐyòng wánbì hòu qǐng zhù xiāo zhànghào.)
Please log out of your account when finished. - 他注销了社交媒体账号。 (Tā zhù xiāo le shèjiāo méitǐ zhànghào.)
He deleted his social media account.
14. 安装 (ān zhuāng) – Install
Meaning: To set up software or hardware on a device.
Example Sentences:
- 我正在安装新游戏。 (Wǒ zhèngzài ān zhuāng xīn yóuxì.)
I’m installing a new game. - 这个驱动程序需要手动安装。 (Zhège qūdòng chéngxù xūyào shǒudòng ān zhuāng.)
This driver needs to be manually installed.
15. 卸载 (xiè zài) – Uninstall
Meaning: To remove software from a device.
Example Sentences:
- 请卸载不需要的程序。 (Qǐng xiè zài bù xūyào de chéngxù.)
Please uninstall unnecessary programs. - 我误装了恶意软件，现在要卸载。 (Wǒ wù zhuāng le èyì ruǎnjiàn, xiànzài yào xiè zài.)
I accidentally installed malware; now I need to uninstall it.
16. 搜索 (sōu suǒ) – Search
Meaning: To look for information or files.
Example Sentences:
- 在谷歌上搜索答案。 (Zài Gǔgē shàng sōu suǒ dáàn.)
Search for answers on Google. - 我找不到这个文件，需要搜索。 (Wǒ zhǎo bù dào zhège wénjiàn, xūyào sōu suǒ.)
I can’t find this file; I need to search for it.
17. 链接 (liàn jiē) – Link / Hyperlink
Meaning: A clickable reference to another webpage or file.
Example Sentences:
- 点击这个链接下载软件。 (Diǎn jī zhège liàn jiē xià zài ruǎnjiàn.)
Click this link to download the software. - 这个网页有很多坏链接。 (Zhège wǎngyè yǒu hěnduō huài liàn jiē.)
This webpage has many broken links.
18. 文件夹 (wénjiànjiā) – Folder
Meaning: A digital container for organizing files.
Example Sentences:
- 请把文件移动到新文件夹。 (Qǐng bǎ wénjiàn yídòng dào xīn wénjiànjiā.)
Please move the files to a new folder. - 我的桌面有很多文件夹。 (Wǒ de zhuōmiàn yǒu hěnduō wénjiànjiā.)
My desktop has many folders.
19. 病毒 (bìng dú) – Virus
Meaning: Malicious software that harms a computer.
Example Sentences:
- 我的电脑感染了病毒。 (Wǒ de diànnǎo gǎnrǎn le bìng dú.)
My computer got infected with a virus. - 安装杀毒软件保护系统。 (Ān zhuāng shādú ruǎnjiàn bǎohù xìtǒng.)
Install antivirus software to protect your system.
20. 防火墙 (fáng huǒ qiáng) – Firewall
Meaning: A security system that blocks unauthorized access.
Example Sentences:
- 启用防火墙防止黑客攻击。 (Qǐyòng fáng huǒ qiáng fángzhǐ hàikè gōngjī.)
Enable the firewall to prevent hacker attacks. - 公司的防火墙很严格。 (Gōngsī de fáng huǒ qiáng hěn yángé.)
The company’s firewall is very strict.
Conclusion
Mastering these essential computer terms in Chinese will boost your confidence when using technology in a Mandarin-speaking environment. Whether you’re a student, professional, or casual user, these words will help you navigate digital tasks more efficiently.
Practice Tip: Try using these terms in daily conversations or write sample sentences to reinforce your learning.
If you found this guide helpful, share it with friends or leave a comment below with your favorite tech word in Chinese!
Happy learning!
