手机软件
shǒujī ruǎnjiàn
The English phrase 'phone app' is translated into Chinese as 手机软件 (shǒujī ruǎnjiàn).
手机软件 is used to describe a software program designed to run on a smartphone. In modern spoken Chinese, people frequently use the English loanword APP instead of the full term. For more technical or precise contexts, you might use 手机应用程序, which translates to 'phone application program' or 移动应用 for 'mobile application'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 手机 (shǒujī), meaning 'mobile phone' and 软件 (ruǎnjiàn), meaning 'software'.
Which one should you use?
While 软件 (ruǎnjiàn) refers to software in general (including desktop software), 手机软件 (shǒujī ruǎnjiàn) specifically denotes mobile software.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hong Kong, the term 手機程式 is commonly used to refer to phone apps. In Taiwan, the term 手機APP is widely used.
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting phone apps, use the measure word 个.
How do you pronounce it?
shǒujī ruǎnjiàn
Did you know?
- The name of the company Microsoft is translated into Chinese as 微软, which literally combines 'micro' and 'soft'. This uses the same character 软 found in 手机软件.
- The word for phone, 手机, literally translates to 'hand machine'. This reflects the literal combination of 'hand' and 'machine' to describe a portable device.
- In China, the word for 'software' 软件 is a direct linguistic antonym to the word for 'hardware' 硬件. Both terms rely on the contrast between 'soft' 软 and 'hard' 硬 to categorize computer components.
Examples in context
- 三个手机应用Three phone apps
- 社交手机应用Social phone app
- 购物手机应用Shopping phone app
- 这个手机应用用于在线支付This phone app is used for online payment.
- 那个手机应用提供最新新闻That phone app provides the latest news.
- 这个手机软件很有用。Zhège shǒujī ruǎnjiàn hěn yǒuyòng.This phone app is very useful.
- 你下载那个手机软件了吗？Nǐ xiàzài nàge shǒujī ruǎnjiàn le ma?Did you download that phone app?
- 我需要一个好用的手机软件。Wǒ xūyào yīgè hǎoyòng de shǒujī ruǎnjiàn.I need a good phone app.
Example conversation
浩然 asks 晓雯 for a recommendation for a language learning app.
- 浩然 Haoran晓雯，你有什么好用的手机软件推荐吗？Xiǎowén, nǐ yǒu shéme hǎoyòng de shǒujī ruǎnjiàn tuījiàn ma?Xiaowen, do you have any good phone app recommendations?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen你可以试试这个学习软件。Nǐ kěyǐ shìshì zhège xuéxí ruǎnjiàn.You can try this learning software.
- 浩然 Haoran这个手机软件免费吗？Zhège shǒujī ruǎnjiàn miǎnfèi ma?Is this phone app free?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen它是免费的，你可以试试看。Tā shì miǎnfèi de, nǐ kěyǐ shìshì kàn.It is free, you can give it a try.
