更新
gēngxīn
In Chinese, the word for to update is 更新 (gēngxīn).
更新 is the most common and general way to express the concept of updating. It can be used as a verb to mean the act of making something up to date, or as a noun to refer to the update itself.
Meaning: to make something up to date (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 更新 consists of two parts: 更 (gēng), which means to change or replace and 新 (xīn), which means new.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
If you want to indicate that an update has already been completed, you can add the particle 了 after the verb to form 更新了.
How do you pronounce it?
gēngxīn
Did you know?
- The word 更 originally referred to the marking of time during the night in ancient China. This ancient sense of 'changing the watch' evolved into the modern meaning of changing or replacing.
- In a digital context, if you want to 'refresh' a webpage rather than 'update' the software, you would use the word 刷新 (shāxīn), which literally translates to 'brush new'.
- In the world of web novels and manga, 更新 is used as a slang term for the release of a new chapter. Fans will often plead with an author to 更新 to avoid the agony of waiting for the next installment.
Examples in context
- 請更新系統。Update your system.This sentence is useful for practicing the command to update a system.Tatoeba #13175376 by LeviHighway, translation #6627683 by Schuager
- 請更新軟體。Update your software.This sentence is useful for practicing the command to update software.Tatoeba #13175381 by LeviHighway, translation #4515217 by DostKaplan
- 更新應用程式。Update the app.This sentence is useful for practicing the command to update an app.Tatoeba #13175369 by LeviHighway, translation #9935336 by ddnktr
- 软件更新Software update
- 请确保您的应用程序已经更新到最新版。Please make sure your application is updated to the latest version.
- 这篇报告需要更新一下。This report needs an update.
- 你能告诉我这个项目的最新情况吗？Can you update me on the latest situation of this project?
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At the office, a colleague asks about the project status.
- 梓涵 Zihan志强，這個檔案更新了嗎？Zhìqiáng, zhège dāng'àn gēngxīn le ma?Zhiqiang, has this file been updated?
- 志强 Zhiqiang我剛才已經更新好了。Wǒ gāngcái yǐjīng gēngxīn hǎo le.I just finished updating it.
- 梓涵 Zihan太好了，謝謝你。Tài hǎo le, xièxiè nǐ.Great, thank you.
- 志强 Zhiqiang不客氣。Bú kèqì.You're welcome.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “update” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
