手机
shǒujī
cell phone / mobile phone
手机 is one of the most essential nouns for modern life in China. It appears in conversations about payments, navigation, communication, and emergencies.
Example sentences
我的手机没电了。
Wǒ de shǒujī méi diàn le.
My phone is out of battery.
可以用手机支付吗？
Kěyǐ yòng shǒujī zhīfù ma?
Can I pay by phone?
How to use 手机 in practice
手机 is a travel item that is easiest to learn inside a complete sentence. Read it with the pinyin shǒujī, then connect it to the meaning “cell phone / mobile phone” before trying to use it from memory. The examples on this page show the phrase in context: 我的手机没电了。 / 可以用手机支付吗？.
When you practice 手机, do not stop at recognition. Say one example aloud, swap in a new person, place, object, or time word, and then use the phrase in a short answer. This turns a glossary entry into real Mandarin output and exposes word-order or pronunciation mistakes quickly.
Common learner mistake
A common learner mistake is to memorize 手机 only as “cell phone / mobile phone” and then translate word by word from English. Instead, learn the whole chunk with the words around it. Notice which nouns, verbs, measure words, or polite markers appear before and after the phrase, and copy that pattern in your own sentence.
Mini practice prompt
Practice prompt: open Chinese travel phrases, start a short conversation, and use 手机 naturally in your first or second reply. If the sentence feels awkward, compare it with the examples above and try again with a smaller sentence.
Memory tip: review 手机 tomorrow by covering the English meaning, reading only shǒujī, and producing a sentence before checking the examples. Active recall helps this word survive beyond one reading session.
Practice related pages
FAQ
What is 手机 literally?
手 means hand and 机 means machine/device, so 手机 literally means hand-device or handset.
How can I remember 手机 faster?
Say 手机 inside a full sentence, change one detail, and repeat it in a realistic prompt. The combination of sound, meaning, and context is stronger than memorizing the translation alone.
Can I use 手机 in conversation practice?
Yes. Start with the example sentence, then use 手机 in a short AI conversation so you can see whether the surrounding word order and tone feel natural.
Published by AI Chinese Coach