电子烟
diàn zǐ yān
In Chinese, to vape is expressed using 电子烟 (diàn zǐ yān).
While the English word 'vape' is commonly used as a verb, the Chinese term 电子烟 is primarily used as a noun to refer to the electronic cigarette itself or the general act of using it.
Meaning: to inhale the vapor produced by a non-combustible cigarette (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 电子烟 literally translates to 'electronic cigarette'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the specific action of vaping as a verb, you should use the verb 抽 (to puff or smoke) followed by the noun 电子烟.
How do you pronounce it?
diàn zǐ yān
Did you know?
- The verb 抽 used in 抽电子烟 is the same word used for 'drawing' a lottery ticket or 'extracting' a tooth.
- The character 烟 in 电子烟 originally referred to 'mist' or 'smoke', but it is also the root for the word 'opium' (鸦片烟), linking modern vaping to China's complex history with narcotics.
- The word 烟 (smoke/cigarette) is a component of the phrase, which is the same character used in the word for 'fireworks', 烟花.
Examples in context
- 他在用雾化器。He is using a vaporizer.
- 我最近开始用电子烟。I recently started using an electronic cigarette.
- 她正在吸电子烟。She is vaping.
- 他不抽烟，但是他喜欢用电子烟。Tā bù chōu yān, dànshì tā xǐhuān yòng diànzǐyān.He doesn't smoke, but he likes to vape.
- 这里不准使用电子烟。Zhèlǐ bù zhǔn shǐyòng diànzǐyān.Vaping is not allowed here.
Example conversation
Two friends are standing outside a restaurant.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen浩然，你在抽电子烟吗？hào rán, nǐ zài chōu diàn zǐ yān ma？Haoran, are you vaping?
- 浩然 Haoran是的，我最近在抽电子烟。shì de, wǒ zuì jìn zài chōu diàn zǐ yān。Yes, I've been vaping lately.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen这个味道怎么样？zhè ge wèi dào zěn me yàng？How does this flavor taste?
- 浩然 Haoran我觉得味道很甜。wǒ jué dé wèi dào hěn tián。I think the flavor is very sweet.
