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手机
shǒujī
What does "手机" mean in English?
mobile phone我每天都用手机看新闻。
I read the news on my phone every day.
How to use "手机" correctly: definitions and examples in English?
formal
A portable electronic device used for making phone calls, sending text messages, and accessing the internet.
你的手机响了。
Your phone is ringing.
她用手机拍了一张照片。
She took a photo with her phone.
In modern usage, '手机' often refers to smartphones, though it technically includes all mobile phones.
Pro Tip
Distinguishing '手机' and '电话'
'手机' specifically refers to mobile phones, while '电话' can mean any phone (including landlines).
Gold Rule
Pluralization in Chinese
Chinese nouns like '手机' are not pluralized (e.g., '两部手机' means 'two phones', not 'two hand machines').
Word Origin
Composed of '手' (shǒu, 'hand') and '机' (jī, 'machine/device'), literally 'hand machine'. The term emerged in the late 20th century as mobile phones became portable.
Usage Notes
Avoid using '手机' to refer to landline phones (use '座机' instead). In Taiwan, '行動電話' (xíngdòng diànhuà) is more common.
Word Breakdown
手
hand
root机
machine/device
root汉英词典