2 · 40 words

The phone and the internet

Calling, texting, messages, accounts and being online.

Most words for the phone and the internet are built from older ones: 机(jī), a machine, gives 手机(shǒujī), and 网(wǎng), a net, gives 上网(shàngwǎng), 网站(wǎngzhàn) and 网课(wǎngkè). The person you call or write to comes first, with 给(gěi): 给(gěi)妈妈(māma)打电话(dǎdiànhuà), “to phone Mum”.

The words

Verb (14)

占线(zhànxiàn)(of a line) to be busy, engagedVerb2

我(wǒ)打(dǎ)了(le)三(sān)次(cì)，一直(yìzhí)占线(zhànxiàn)。I rang three times and the line was engaged every time.

充值(chōngzhí)to top up (credit)Verb2

我(wǒ)的(de)话费(huàfèi)不(bú)够(gòu)了(le)，得(děi)充值(chōngzhí)。I’m running out of credit; I need to top up.

上网(shàngwǎng)to go online, use the internetVerb2

这儿(zhèr)可以(kěyǐ)上网(shàngwǎng)吗(ma)？Can I get online here?

发(fā)to sendVerb2

到(dào)了(le)给(gěi)我(wǒ)发(fā)个(ge)短信(duǎnxìn)。Send me a text when you get there.

收到(shōudào)to receive, getVerb2

你(nǐ)收到(shōudào)我(wǒ)的(de)邮件(yóujiàn)了(le)吗(ma)？Did you get my email?

回复(huífù)to reply; replyVerb2

老师(lǎoshī)还(hái)没(méi)回复(huífù)我(wǒ)。The teacher hasn’t replied to me yet.

留言(liúyán)to leave a message; messageVerb2

他(tā)不(bú)在(zài)，你(nǐ)可以(kěyǐ)给(gěi)他(tā)留言(liúyán)。He isn’t here; you can leave him a message.

聊天(liáotiān)to chatVerb2

昨天(zuótiān)我(wǒ)和(hé)朋友(péngyou)聊天(liáotiān)聊(liáo)了(le)两(liǎng)个(ge)小时(xiǎoshí)。Yesterday I chatted with a friend for two hours.

Separable: 聊(liáo)了(le)一会儿(yíhuìr)天(tiān), chatted for a while.

打错(dǎcuò)to dial a wrong number; to hit the wrong keyVerb2

对不起(duìbuqǐ)，您(nín)打错(dǎcuò)了(le)。Sorry, you’ve got the wrong number.

打字(dǎzì)to typeVerb2

她(tā)用(yòng)手机(shǒujī)打字(dǎzì)很(hěn)快(kuài)。She types very fast on her phone.

截图(jiétú)to take a screenshot; screenshotVerb2

你(nǐ)可以(kěyǐ)截图(jiétú)发(fā)给(gěi)我(wǒ)吗(ma)？Could you take a screenshot and send it to me?

自拍(zìpāi)to take a selfie; selfieVerb2

她(tā)很(hěn)喜欢(xǐhuan)自拍(zìpāi)。She loves taking selfies.

查(chá)to check; to look upVerb2

我(wǒ)查(chá)一下(yíxià)明天(míngtiān)的(de)天气(tiānqì)。Let me check tomorrow’s weather.

分享(fēnxiǎng)to shareVerb2

谢谢(xièxie)你(nǐ)分享(fēnxiǎng)这些(zhèxiē)照片(zhàopiàn)！Thanks for sharing these photos!

This list belongs to Technology, the internet and science — seven lists and 280 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.