重置
chóngzhì
To reset is to say 重置 (chóngzhì) in Chinese.
The term 重置 is primarily used in technical, computing and digital contexts. Common uses include resetting a password, a device or a system setting.
Meaning: to set back to the initial state (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 重 (chóng), meaning 'again' or 'repeat' and 置 (zhì), meaning 'to place' or 'to set'.
Which one should you use?
While 重置 is used for technical settings, the word 重来 (chónglái) is used when a person wants to 'start over' in a more general or metaphorical sense, such as a task or a relationship.
How do you pronounce it?
chóngzhì
Did you know?
- The character 重 in 重置 is pronounced 'chóng' (second tone) meaning 'again', which is different from when it is pronounced 'zhòng' (fourth tone) meaning 'heavy'.
- In many software interfaces in China, you will see 重置 used exclusively for 'resetting' parameters, whereas 'restarting' a device uses the word 重启 (chóngqǐ).
- Chinese has a specific term 出厂设置 (chū chǎng shè zhì) for 'factory settings'. To perform a 'factory reset', one says 恢复出厂设置, which literally means 'recover the settings from when it left the factory'.
Examples in context
- 这次升级的一个明显影响是用户会被强制重置密码。With this upgrade, one obvious impact is that users will be obliged to reset their passwords.This sentence shows how users might be forced to use 重置 for a password during an upgrade.Tatoeba #2938660 by vicch, translation #2938661 by vicch
- 我忘记了手机密码，需要把它恢复出厂设置。(wǒ wàng jì le shǒu jī mì mǎ, xū yào bǎ tā huī fù chū chǎng shè zhì)I forgot my phone password, I need to reset it to factory settings.
- 不要担心失败，我们可以重新开始。(bú yào dān xīn shī bài, wǒ men kě yǐ chóng xīn kāi shǐ)Don't worry about failure, we can start over.
- 我的路由器出问题了，我需要重置一下。(wǒ de lù yóu qì chū wèn tí le, wǒ xū yào chóng zhì yī xià)My router has an issue, I need to reset it.
- 请把这款设备的设置重置为出厂设置。Qǐng bǎ zhè kuǎn shè bèi de shè zhì chóng zhì wèi chū chǎng shè zhì.Please reset this device's settings to factory defaults.
- 如果系统出错，你可以尝试重置路由器。Rú guǒ xì tǒng chū cuò, nǐ kě yǐ cháng shì chóng zhì lù luò qì.If the system errors out, you can try resetting the router.
Example conversation
A tech support scenario in an office.
- 俊杰 Junjie我的电脑现在无法连接网络了。Wǒ de diàn nǎo xiàn zài wú fǎ lián jiē wǎng luò le.My computer cannot connect to the network right now.
- 梓涵 Zihan你要不要尝试重置一下网络配置？Nǐ yào bù yào cháng shì chóng zhì yī xià wǎng luò pèi zhì?Do you want to try resetting the network configuration?
- 俊杰 Junjie重置之后数据还会丢失吗？Chóng zhì zhī hòu shù jù hái huì diū shī ma?Will the data be lost after resetting?
- 梓涵 Zihan重置配置通常不会影响你的文件。Chóng zhì pèi zhì tōng cháng bú huì yǐng xiǎng nǐ de wén jiàn.Resetting the configuration usually won't affect your files.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “reset” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
