Video games in Chinese 电子游戏
diànzǐ yóuxì
Play video games in Chinese is 打游戏 (dǎ yóu xì).
Also searched for as: video games, gaming, play video games, gamer, play games.
From console classics to phone games: let's play. 15 essential video games 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 general word for video games in Chinese is 电子游戏 (diàn zǐ yóu xì), but in conversation people just say 游戏 (yóu xì), and to play them is 打游戏 (dǎ yóu xì). China has one of the world's biggest gaming audiences, so you'll hear these words everywhere, from 玩家 (wán jiā, players) chatting online to parents worrying about 网瘾 (wǎng yǐn), internet addiction.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 电子游戏 | diàn zǐ yóu xì | video game |
| 打游戏 | dǎ yóu xì | to play video games |
| 玩家 | wán jiā | player; gamer |
| 游戏机 | yóu xì jī | games console |
| 新手教程 | xīn shǒu jiào chéng | tutorial |
| 存档 | cún dàng | save file; to save |
| 关卡 | guān kǎ | level; stage |
| 通关 | tōng guān | to beat the game |
| 角色 | jué sè | character |
| 任务 | rèn wu | quest; mission |
| 升级 | shēng jí | to level up |
| 皮肤 | pí fū | skin (cosmetic) |
| 沉迷 | chén mí | to be hooked on |
| 网瘾 | wǎng yǐn | gaming addiction; internet addiction |
| 再来一局 | zài lái yī jú | one more round |
Usage tips
- The verb with games is usually 打 (dǎ) or 玩 (wán): 打游戏 (dǎ yóu xì) and 玩游戏 (wán yóu xì) are both natural, but 打 sounds more casual and gamer-ish.
- 局 (jú) is the measure word for a single game or round, so 再来一局 (zài lái yī jú) is 'one more round'; gamers also say 一把 (yī bǎ) with the same meaning.
- 存档 (cún dàng) is both a save file and the act of saving, so you'll hear 我先存个档 (wǒ xiān cún gè dàng), 'let me save first'.
Common mistakes
- Saying 做游戏 (zuò yóu xì) for playing video games → 做游戏 sounds like children's party games; say 打游戏 (dǎ yóu xì) or 玩游戏 (wán yóu xì).
- Using 水平 (shuǐ píng) for a game level → 水平 means skill level; a level or stage in a game is 关卡 (guān kǎ), while levelling up a character is 升级 (shēng jí).
Mini dialogue
- A你怎么还不睡？Nǐ zěn me hái bù shuì?Why aren't you asleep yet?
- B这个关卡我怎么都过不去。Zhè gè guān kǎ wǒ zěn me dōu guò bù qù.I just can't get past this level.
- A明天再打吧，存档了吗？Míng tiān zài dǎ ba, cún dàng le ma?Play it tomorrow. Have you saved?
- B存了。再来一局，打完就睡。Cún le. Zài lái yī jú, dǎ wán jiù shuì.Yes. One more round, then bed.
- A你昨天也是这么说的，是不是沉迷了？Nǐ zuó tiān yě shì zhè me shuō de, shì bù shì chén mí le?You said that yesterday too. Are you hooked?
Example sentences
- 我小时候家里不让玩电子游戏。I wasn't allowed to play video games at home as a kid.
- 他一回家就打游戏。He starts gaming as soon as he gets home.
- 这个游戏有几亿玩家。This game has hundreds of millions of players.
- 我买了一台新游戏机。I bought a new games console.
- 新手教程可以跳过吗？Can I skip the tutorial?
- 别关机，我还没存档！Don't turn it off, I haven't saved yet!
- 这个关卡我怎么都过不去。I just can't get past this level.
- 我花了一个月才通关。It took me a month to beat the game.
- 你选哪个角色？Which character are you picking?
- 先把这个任务做完再说。Let's finish this quest first.
- 多打怪就能升级。Kill more monsters and you'll level up.
- 这个皮肤好看是好看，就是太贵。This skin looks great, it's just too expensive.
- 他最近沉迷这个游戏。He's been hooked on this game lately.
- 我妈总说我有网瘾。My mum always says I'm addicted to games.
- 再来一局，打完就睡。One more round, then bed.
Practise speaking
Ready to use these words? The Video games speaking island has 8 everyday questions about video games to prepare your own answers to.