SIM卡
SIM kǎ
The English phrase 'sim card' can be translated into Chinese as SIM卡 (SIM kǎ), 手機卡 / 手机卡 or 电话卡. Wiktionary also lists 手機卡 / 手机卡 (shǒujīkǎ).
Meaning: small, removable card which stores mobile phone data (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| SIM卡 | SIM kǎ |
| 手機卡 / 手机卡 | shǒujīkǎ |
| 电话卡 | diànhuàkǎ |
The term refers to a small, removable card that stores mobile phone data. When talking about putting a SIM card into a phone, use the verb 插 (chā), as in 插卡 (chā kǎ), which means 'to insert a card'.
What does it mean word for word?
In these terms, the character 卡 (kǎ) is a phonetic loanword used to represent the English word 'card'.
Which one should you use?
While 电话卡 (diànhuàkǎ) can mean a SIM card, it is also the common term for prepaid calling cards or top-up cards used for phone credit.
How do you pronounce it?
SIM kǎ
Did you know?
- In mainland China, buying a 手机卡 (shǒujīkǎ) is a legal process that requires a government-issued ID and often a live facial recognition scan to link the card to a real identity.
- In Chinese, if a computer or a video call freezes, people say the device is 卡 (kǎ), using the same word for 'card' as a verb meaning 'to be stuck'.
- The process of adding credit to a 手机卡 (shǒujīkǎ) is called 充值 (chōngzhí), which literally means 'to fill the value', treating digital credit like a liquid being poured into a container.
Examples in context
- 我需要买一张SIM卡来使用我的新手机。I need to buy a Sim Card to use with my new phone.
- 我的SIM卡壞了。Wǒ de SIM kǎ huài le.My SIM card is broken.
- 這張SIM卡可以用嗎？Zhè zhāng SIM kǎ kěyǐ yòng ma?Can this SIM card be used?
- 我需要買一張新的SIM卡。Wǒ xūyào mǎi yī zhāng xīn de SIM kǎ.I need to buy a new SIM card.
Example conversation
At a mobile phone store.
- 伟 Wei請問這裡可以換SIM卡嗎？Qǐngwèn zhèlǐ kěyǐ huàn SIM kǎ ma?Excuse me, can I change my SIM card here?
- 梓涵 Zihan可以的，請問您需要哪種套餐？Kěyǐ de, qǐngwèn nín xūyào nǎ zhǒng tàocān?Yes, which plan would you like?
- 伟 Wei我想辦一個流量比較多的。Wǒ xiǎng bàn yī gè liúliàng bǐjiào duō de.I want one with more data.
- 梓涵 Zihan沒問題，請給我您的證件。Méi wèntí, qǐng gěi wǒ nín de zhèngjiàn.No problem, please give me your ID.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sim card” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
