麻省理工学院
má shěng lǐ gōng xué yuàn
MIT in Chinese is 麻省理工学院 (má shěng lǐ gōng xué yuàn).
麻省理工学院 refers specifically to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a private research university located in the United States.
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of several parts: 理工 refers to science and engineering, while 学院 means institute or college.
How do you pronounce it?
má shěng lǐ gōng xué yuàn
Did you know?
- The character 麻 (má) means 'hemp' or 'numbing', which is a far cry from its role in the name of the state 'Massachusetts'.
- The character 省 in 麻省 means 'province'. This is a linguistic adaptation because China is divided into provinces, so the US state of Massachusetts is categorized as a 'province' in the Chinese name.
- The term 理工 is a portmanteau of 理学 (natural sciences) and 工学 (engineering). It is used across East Asia, including Japan and Korea, to describe the specific intersection of these two fields.
Examples in context
- 我经过公园的时候看见他了。(Wǒ jīng guò gōng yuán de shí hòu kàn jiàn tā le.)I saw him when I passed by the park.
- 这个工具可以用来修理电脑。(Zhè ge gōng jù kě yǐ yòng lái xiū lǐ diàn nǎo.)This tool can be used to repair computers.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their future education goals.
- 俊杰 Junjie晓雯，你想去哪所大学？Xiǎowén, nǐ xiǎng qù nǎ suǒ dàxué?Xiaowen, which university do you want to go to?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我的梦想是去麻省理工学院。Wǒ de mèngxiǎng shì qù Máshěng Lǐgōng Xuéyuàn.My dream is to go to MIT.
- 俊杰 Junjie那里竞争非常激烈。Nàlǐ jìngzhēng fēicháng jīliè.The competition there is very fierce.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我知道，但我会努力的。Wǒ zhīdào, dàn wǒ huì nǔlì de.I know, but I will work hard.
