Phone Apps in Chinese 手机里
shǒujī lǐ
App in Chinese is 应用 (yìng yòng).
Also searched for as: apps, app, wechat, download.
What's on your home screen? 15 essential on my phone words in Mandarin Chinese, with pinyin and English. Open it in the app to hear each word, tick off the ones you know and turn them into flashcards.
The word for app in Chinese is 应用 (yìng yòng), though many people simply say the English 'app' or APP. Phone vocabulary is especially useful because so much of daily life in China runs through a handful of apps, above all 微信 (Wēi xìn), WeChat, for messaging and 支付宝 (Zhī fù bǎo), Alipay, for payments. Words like 截图 (jié tú), screenshot, and 电量 (diàn liàng), battery level, come up in conversation all the time.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 应用 | yìng yòng | app |
| 微信 | Wēi xìn | |
| 支付宝 | zhī fù bǎo | Alipay |
| 相册 | xiàng cè | photo album |
| 日历 | rì lì | calendar |
| 计算器 | jì suàn qì | calculator |
| 设置 | shè zhì | settings |
| 通知 | tōng zhī | notification |
| 更新 | gēng xīn | to update |
| 电量 | diàn liàng | battery level |
| 截图 | jié tú | screenshot |
| 解锁 | jiě suǒ | to unlock |
| 壁纸 | bì zhǐ | wallpaper |
| 群 | qún | group chat |
| 表情包 | biǎo qíng bāo | sticker; meme |
Usage tips
- To swap contacts, say 加个微信吧 (jiā ge Wēi xìn ba), let's add each other on WeChat, or 我扫你 (wǒ sǎo nǐ), 'I'll scan you', meaning you'll scan the other person's QR code.
- 群 (qún) is short for 群聊 (qún liáo), a group chat. You 建群 (jiàn qún) to set one up and 拉 (lā) people into it: 把我拉进群 (bǎ wǒ lā jìn qún), add me to the group.
- 表情包 (biǎo qíng bāo) covers stickers and meme images, and sending one, 发表情包 (fā biǎo qíng bāo), is a normal way to say thanks or wrap up a chat without seeming abrupt.
Common mistakes
- 电量 (diàn liàng) is the battery level, not the battery or the act of charging; 'my phone's about to die' is 手机快没电了 (shǒu jī kuài méi diàn le), and to charge it is 充电 (chōng diàn).
- 更新 (gēng xīn), to update, is first tone gēng; learners often say gèng, the reading of 更 that means 'even more'.
Mini dialogue
- A你的手机壁纸好好看！是哪儿？Nǐ de shǒu jī bì zhǐ hǎo hǎo kàn! Shì nǎr?Your phone wallpaper is lovely! Where is that?
- B是我在云南拍的。照片都在相册里。Shì wǒ zài Yún nán pāi de. Zhào piàn dōu zài xiàng cè lǐ.I took it in Yunnan. The photos are all in my album.
- A能发给我吗？Néng fā gěi wǒ ma?Can you send them to me?
- B好啊，我们加个微信吧。Hǎo a, wǒ men jiā ge Wēi xìn ba.Sure, let's add each other on WeChat.
- A等一下，我的手机在更新，现在用不了。Děng yī xià, wǒ de shǒu jī zài gēng xīn, xiàn zài yòng bu liǎo.Hang on, my phone's updating, I can't use it right now.
- B没事，那我先发到我们的群里。Méi shì, nà wǒ xiān fā dào wǒ men de qún lǐ.No worries, I'll post them in our group chat for now.
Example sentences
- 你手机里有多少个应用？How many apps do you have on your phone?
- 加我微信吧！Add me on WeChat!
- 我用支付宝付钱。I pay with Alipay.
- 照片在相册里。The photos are in the album.
- 我把会议写在日历上了。I put the meeting in my calendar.
- 用计算器算一下。Work it out on the calculator.
- 在设置里改语言。Change the language in settings.
- 通知太多了，关掉吧。Too many notifications, turn them off.
- 手机需要更新了。The phone needs an update.
- 电量只有百分之十了。The battery's only at ten percent.
- 我截图发给你。I'll screenshot it and send it to you.
- 用指纹解锁。Unlock with your fingerprint.
- 你的手机壁纸很好看。Your phone wallpaper is nice.
- 我们建一个群吧。Let's set up a group chat.
- 她发了一个可爱的表情包。She sent a cute sticker.
Practise speaking
Ready to use these words? The On my phone speaking island has 8 everyday questions about on my phone to prepare your own answers to.