字母表
zìmǔbiǎo
The English phrase "alphabet" is translated into Chinese as 字母表 (zìmǔbiǎo). Wiktionary also lists 字母 (zìmǔ) and 字母系統 / 字母系统 (zìmǔ xìtǒng).
Meaning: an ordered set of letters used in a language (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 字母表 | zìmǔbiǎo |
| 字母 | zìmǔ |
| 字母系統 / 字母系统 | zìmǔ xìtǒng |
| 音素文字 | yīnsù wénzì |
In Chinese, the word 字母 is used to refer to the individual components of phonetic scripts like the Latin alphabet, rather than the logographic characters used in standard Chinese writing. While 字母表 refers to the entire ordered set (the alphabet), 字母 refers to the individual characters or letters themselves. Informally, Chinese speakers often refer to the Western alphabet as A, B, C (A, B, C).
What does it mean word for word?
The word 字母表 is composed of 字母 (zìmǔ), meaning 'letter' and 表 (biǎo), meaning 'list' or 'table'.
How do you pronounce it?
zìmǔbiǎo
Did you know?
- In modern digital contexts, Chinese speakers often use the English phrase 'ABC' as a noun to describe someone who is an 'American-Born Chinese' person, blending the concept of the alphabet with ethnicity.
- The word for 'letter' is 字母, which literally translates to 'mother-child' or 'mother-son' characters. It implies a relationship where the base shapes serve as the parents of the written sounds.
- The character 表 in 字母表 can also mean 'watch' or 'meter'. In this context, it specifically refers to a formatted list or a chart.
Examples in context
- 英文有二十六個字母。The English alphabet has 26 letters.This sentence shows how to state the number of letters in the English alphabet using 字母.Tatoeba #6057131 by xjjAstrus, translation #26340 by CK
- 我在不真正了解「語音學」是什麼意思、甚至可能連字母都不熟悉的情況下，自己能夠想到「p」是「b」的較硬版本，「t」對「d」、「k」對「g」、「s」對「z」也是同樣的關係。Without actually knowing what "phonetics" meant and probably not even knowing the alphabet, I was able to think to myself that "p" was a harder version of "b" as was "t" to "d", "k" to "g" and "s" to "z".This sentence uses 字母 to describe a person's familiarity with an alphabet.Tatoeba #13826830 by LeviHighway, translation #1325353 by al_ex_an_der
- 写下字母的大写字母。Write the alphabet in capitals.This sentence demonstrates how to use 字母 when talking about writing in capital letters.Tatoeba #8930190 by iiujik, translation #67288 by CM
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
In a library, a student is asking for help with an English textbook.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen請問這本教材有附上英文字母表嗎？Qǐngwèn zhè běn jiàocái yǒu fùshàng Yīngwén zìmǔbiǎo ma?Excuse me, does this textbook include an English alphabet?
- 俊杰 Junjie有的，在封底的最後一頁。Yǒu de, zài fēngdǐ de zuìhòu yī yè.Yes, it is on the very last page of the back cover.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen太好了，謝謝你，俊杰。Tài hǎo le, xièxiè nǐ, Jùnjié.That's great, thank you, Junjie.
- 俊杰 Junjie不客氣，曉雯。Bù kèqì, Xiǎowén.You're welcome, Xiaowen.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “alphabet” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
