Smart home & gadgets in Chinese 智能家居
zhìnéng jiājū
Smart home in Chinese is 智能家居 (zhì néng jiā jū).
Also searched for as: smart home, gadgets, smart devices, smart speaker, robot vacuum.
When your speaker knows more than you do. 15 essential smart home & gadgets 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.
智能 (zhì néng), smart, is the key building block here: put it in front of almost any device and you have the Chinese name, from 智能音箱 (zhì néng yīn xiāng), smart speaker, to 智能手表 (zhì néng shǒu biǎo), smartwatch. These words let you describe the gadgets in your home, explain how you 连接 (lián jiē), connect, them over 蓝牙 (lán yá), Bluetooth, and complain when the 扫地机器人 (sǎo dì jī qì rén), robot vacuum, gets stuck under the sofa again.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 智能家居 | zhì néng jiā jū | smart home |
| 智能音箱 | zhì néng yīn xiāng | smart speaker |
| 扫地机器人 | sǎo dì jī qì rén | robot vacuum |
| 智能手表 | zhì néng shǒu biǎo | smartwatch |
| 智能门锁 | zhì néng mén suǒ | smart lock |
| 摄像头 | shè xiàng tóu | camera (security or web) |
| 数码产品 | shù mǎ chǎn pǐn | digital gadgets |
| 设备 | shè bèi | device |
| 耳机 | ěr jī | earphones; headphones |
| 蓝牙 | lán yá | Bluetooth |
| 连接 | lián jiē | to connect |
| 遥控 | yáo kòng | to control remotely |
| 声控 | shēng kòng | sound-activated; voice-controlled |
| 充电 | chōng diàn | to charge |
| 升级 | shēng jí | to update; to upgrade |
Usage tips
- 声控 (shēng kòng) is an everyday word because many Chinese stairwells have sound-activated lights: you clap, cough or stamp to switch them on.
- Gadgets have their own measure words: 一台 (yī tái) for machines such as a robot vacuum, 一块 (yī kuài) for a watch and 一副 (yī fù) for a pair of earphones.
- When a device runs out of battery, say 没电了 (méi diàn le); you then 充电 (chōng diàn) with a 充电器 (chōng diàn qì), charger, or a 充电宝 (chōng diàn bǎo), power bank.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up 连接 (lián jiē), to connect, with 链接 (liàn jiē), a web link; they differ only in the first tone and the first character.
- Calling a security camera or webcam 照相机 (zhào xiàng jī), which is a stills camera; for a home or web camera say 摄像头 (shè xiàng tóu).
Mini dialogue
- A你家的扫地机器人好用吗？Nǐ jiā de sǎo dì jī qì rén hǎo yòng ma?Is your robot vacuum any good?
- B挺好用的，我可以用手机遥控它。Tǐng hǎo yòng de, wǒ kě yǐ yòng shǒu jī yáo kòng tā.It's pretty good. I can control it from my phone.
- A我也想买一台，不过怕连接很麻烦。Wǒ yě xiǎng mǎi yī tái, bù guò pà lián jiē hěn má fan.I'd like to get one too, but I'm worried connecting it will be a hassle.
- B不麻烦，下载个App，连上Wi-Fi就行了。Bù má fan, xià zài gè App, lián shàng Wi-Fi jiù xíng le.It isn't. Just download the app and connect it to the Wi-Fi.
- A那它会不会卡在沙发下面？Nà tā huì bù huì kǎ zài shā fā xià miàn?But won't it get stuck under the sofa?
- B会啊，所以我还装了个摄像头看着它！Huì a, suǒ yǐ wǒ hái zhuāng le gè shè xiàng tóu kàn zhe tā!It does, which is why I've put in a camera to keep an eye on it!
Example sentences
- 我家装了智能家居。We've had our home kitted out as a smart home.
- 我每天早上问智能音箱天气。Every morning I ask the smart speaker about the weather.
- 扫地机器人又卡在沙发下面了。The robot vacuum's stuck under the sofa again.
- 智能手表能测心率。A smartwatch can measure your heart rate.
- 有了智能门锁就不用带钥匙了。With a smart lock you don't need to carry keys.
- 我在家里装了个摄像头看猫。I put a camera in at home to keep an eye on the cat.
- 他特别喜欢买数码产品。He loves buying gadgets.
- 家里的设备太多了。There are too many devices at home.
- 我的耳机又找不到了。I can't find my earphones again.
- 手机蓝牙连不上。My phone won't connect over Bluetooth.
- 先把设备连接到网络。First connect the device to the network.
- 我可以用手机遥控空调。I can control the air con from my phone.
- 楼道里的灯是声控的。The stairwell light is sound-activated.
- 我每天晚上给手表充电。I charge my watch every night.
- 手机提示要升级系统。My phone says the system needs updating.
Practise speaking
Ready to use these words? The Smart home & gadgets speaking island has 8 everyday questions about smart home & gadgets to prepare your own answers to.