人工智能
réngōng zhìnéng
In Chinese, artificial intelligence is said as 人工智能 (réngōng zhìnéng).
In modern technical and casual contexts, the English acronym AI is frequently used instead of the full Chinese term.
Meaning: artificial intelligence (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
人工智能 is composed of two parts: 人工, which means man-made or artificial (human + work) and 智能, which means intelligence (intelligence/wisdom + ability).
Is it said differently in some regions?
人工智能 is more commonly used in mainland China, while 人工智慧 is preferred in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
How do you pronounce it?
réngōng zhìnéng
Did you know?
- In Chinese internet slang, the word 人工智能 is sometimes jokingly replaced by 人工智障, which means 'artificial mental disability'.
- Because the English letters 'AI' sound like the Chinese word 哎 (āi), a common interjection used to get someone's attention or express a sigh, speakers often play with this homophone in puns.
- The word 人工 is also used in terms like 人工呼吸 for 'artificial respiration', showing that 'artificial' in Chinese is linked to human intervention rather than just synthetic materials.
Examples in context
- AI是人工智能的略称。AI means Artificial Intelligence.This sentence is useful for showing that AI is an abbreviation for 人工智能.Tatoeba #4104741 by maple, translation #427666 by witbrock
- AI 代表人工智能。AI stands for artificial intelligence.This sentence is useful for showing that AI stands for 人工智能.Tatoeba #916623 by Martha, translation #72264 by CK
- 现在的汽车都使用了人工智能。Xiànzài de qìchē dōu shǐyòngle réngōng zhìnéng.Modern cars all use artificial intelligence.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing new technology in the office.
- 雨婷 Yuting志强，你听说过人工智能吗？Zhìqiáng, nǐ tīngshuōguò réngōng zhìnéng ma?Zhiqiang, have you heard of artificial intelligence?
- 志强 Zhiqiang当然，我也在关注这个领域。Dāngrán, wǒ yě zài guānzhù zhège lǐngyù.Of course, I am also following this field.
- 雨婷 Yuting它会让我们的工作更方便。Tā huì ràng wǒmen de gōngzuò gèng fāngbiàn.It will make our work more convenient.
- 志强 Zhiqiang是的，雨婷，很有可能。Shì de, Yǔtíng, hěn yǒu kěnéng.Yes, Yuting, that is very likely.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ai” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
