3 · 40 words

Technology in daily life

Computers, phones, apps and the words on their screens.

Much of this vocabulary is built from a handful of characters: 机(jī) for a machine (开机(kāijī), 关机(guānjī), 打印机(dǎyìnjī)), 电(diàn) for electricity (充电(chōngdiàn), 电池(diànchí)) and 网(wǎng) for the net (网速(wǎngsù), 网页(wǎngyè)). Learn the parts and new words explain themselves. Two-character words such as 点击(diǎnjī) and 删除(shānchú) are what a screen says; in speech people shorten them to 点(diǎn) and 删(shān).

The words

Verb (16)

下载(xiàzài)to downloadVerb3

我(wǒ)先(xiān)把(bǎ)地图(dìtú)下载(xiàzài)到(dào)手机(shǒujī)上(shàng)。I will download the map to my phone first.

上传(shàngchuán)to uploadVerb3

照片(zhàopiàn)太(tài)大(dà)，上传(shàngchuán)得(de)很(hěn)慢(màn)。The photo is too big, so it is uploading very slowly.

充电(chōngdiàn)to charge (a battery)Verb3

手机(shǒujī)快(kuài)没(méi)电(diàn)了(le)，我(wǒ)得(děi)充电(chōngdiàn)。My phone is nearly out of battery; I need to charge it.

Separable: 充(chōng)一下(yíxià)电(diàn), charge it for a bit.

保存(bǎocún)to save; to keepVerb3

写完(xiěwán)以后(yǐhòu)别(bié)忘(wàng)了(le)保存(bǎocún)。When you finish writing, do not forget to save.

删除(shānchú)to deleteVerb3

我(wǒ)不(bù)小心(xiǎoxīn)把(bǎ)照片(zhàopiàn)删除(shānchú)了(le)。I deleted the photos by accident.

In speech usually just 删(shān).

复制(fùzhì)to copyVerb3

你(nǐ)可以(kěyǐ)把(bǎ)这(zhè)段(duàn)话(huà)复制(fùzhì)下来(xiàlai)。You can copy this passage.

输入(shūrù)to enter; to type inVerb3

请(qǐng)输入(shūrù)你(nǐ)的(de)手机(shǒujī)号码(hàomǎ)。Please enter your mobile number.

搜索(sōusuǒ)to search (online)Verb3

你(nǐ)在(zài)网上(wǎngshàng)搜索(sōusuǒ)一下(yíxià)这(zhè)家(jiā)饭馆(fànguǎn)的(de)地址(dìzhǐ)。Search online for the address of this restaurant.

点击(diǎnjī)to clickVerb3

点击(diǎnjī)这里(zhèlǐ)就(jiù)能(néng)下载(xiàzài)。Click here to download.

Written on screens; in speech 点(diǎn).

请(qǐng)先(xiān)登录(dēnglù)，然后(ránhòu)再(zài)买(mǎi)票(piào)。Please log in first, then buy the ticket.

更新(gēngxīn)to updateVerb3

这个(zhège)软件(ruǎnjiàn)每(měi)个(ge)月(yuè)更新(gēngxīn)一(yí)次(cì)。This software is updated once a month.

开机(kāijī)to switch on (a phone or computer)Verb3

飞机(fēijī)落地(luòdì)以后(yǐhòu)才(cái)能(néng)开机(kāijī)。You may only switch your phone on once the plane has landed.

关机(guānjī)to switch off (a phone or computer)Verb3

开会(kāihuì)的(de)时候(shíhou)请(qǐng)关机(guānjī)。Please switch off your phones during the meeting.

死机(sǐjī)(of a computer) to freeze; to crashVerb3

电脑(diànnǎo)又(yòu)死机(sǐjī)了(le)，我(wǒ)刚才(gāngcái)写(xiě)的(de)都(dōu)没(méi)了(le)。The computer has crashed again, and everything I just wrote is gone.

打印(dǎyìn)to printVerb3

我(wǒ)要(yào)打印(dǎyìn)三(sān)份(fèn)简历(jiǎnlì)。I need to print three copies of my CV.

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.