Looking up...
电脑
diànnǎo
computer
我用电脑工作。
I work on a computer.
general
An electronic device that processes data and performs computations.
这台电脑运行速度很快。
This computer runs very fast.
我用电脑写报告。
I write reports on the computer.
Often used interchangeably with '计算机' (jìsuànjī), though '电脑' is more common in everyday speech.
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with '计算机'
'电脑' and '计算机' are often interchangeable, but '电脑' is more colloquial, while '计算机' is preferred in formal or technical writing.
Word Origin
电 (electric) + 脑 (brain) → 'electric brain', reflecting the early concept of computers as 'electronic brains' that mimic human thought processes.
Usage Notes
In Chinese, '电脑' is the most common term for personal computers, while '计算机' is more formal or technical. The term '电脑' is also used in contexts like '电脑游戏' (computer games) or '电脑编程' (computer programming).
Word Breakdown
电
electric
root脑
brain
root汉英词典