Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 短視頻 / 短视频 | duǎnshìpín |
| 視頻 / 视频 | shìpín |
The term 視頻 / 视频 refers generally to any video content. If you are specifically talking about short-form content like TikTok or Reels, use 短視頻 / 短视频. You can also use the phrase 关于…的视频 to say "video about…". Additionally, the verb 刷 (shuā), which literally means "to brush", is frequently used with the word to describe the action of scrolling through or watching a video feed, as in 刷视频.
Which one should you use?
Use 短視頻 / 短视频 specifically to refer to short-form videos, while 視頻 / 视频 is a general term for any video content regardless of its length. Another related term is 短片 (duǎn piàn), which means "short film" and is used for short videos or movie trailers.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mainland China, the simplified form 视频 is the standard term for video. In Taiwan and Hong Kong, however, the term 影片 (yǐngpiàn) is more commonly used.
How do you pronounce it?
duǎnshìpín
Did you know?
- While 视频 is used for digital video, the term 影片 used in Taiwan and Hong Kong literally translates to 'shadow piece'. This reflects an older way of thinking about film as projected shadows on a screen.
- The word 视频 (shìpín) is composed of two characters that relate to 'vision' and 'information/data', emphasizing the digital transmission of sight.
- The term 视频 was originally a technical translation for 'video signal' in electronics before it became the common word for a movie clip or digital file.
Examples in context
- 我刚刚看了一段有趣的视频。I just watched an interesting video.
- 这段录像是一份重要的证据。This video is an important piece of evidence.
- 这个短片很有创意。This short film is very creative.
- 小明，你看过这个视频吗？Xiao Ming, have you seen this video?
- 我喜欢看关于旅行的视频。I enjoy watching videos about travel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “video” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
