Calling, texting, messages, accounts and being online.
Practise this list
From these 40 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
Most words for the phone and the internet are built from older ones: 机, a machine, gives 手机, and 网, a net, gives 上网, 网站 and 网课. The person you call or write to comes first, with 给: 给妈妈打电话, “to phone Mum”.
The words
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Verb (14)
占线(of a line) to be busy, engagedVerb2
我打了三次，一直占线。I rang three times and the line was engaged every time.
充值to top up (credit)Verb2
我的话费不够了，得充值。I’m running out of credit; I need to top up.
上网to go online, use the internetVerb2
这儿可以上网吗？Can I get online here?
发to sendVerb2
到了给我发个短信。Send me a text when you get there.
收到to receive, getVerb2
你收到我的邮件了吗？Did you get my email?
回复to reply; replyVerb2
老师还没回复我。The teacher hasn’t replied to me yet.
留言to leave a message; messageVerb2
他不在，你可以给他留言。He isn’t here; you can leave him a message.
聊天to chatVerb2
昨天我和朋友聊天聊了两个小时。Yesterday I chatted with a friend for two hours.
Separable: 聊了一会儿天, chatted for a while.
打错to dial a wrong number; to hit the wrong keyVerb2
对不起，您打错了。Sorry, you’ve got the wrong number.
打字to typeVerb2
她用手机打字很快。She types very fast on her phone.
截图to take a screenshot; screenshotVerb2
你可以截图发给我吗？Could you take a screenshot and send it to me?
自拍to take a selfie; selfieVerb2
她很喜欢自拍。She loves taking selfies.
查to check; to look upVerb2
我查一下明天的天气。Let me check tomorrow’s weather.
分享to shareVerb2
谢谢你分享这些照片！Thanks for sharing these photos!
Noun (20)
手机mobile phoneNoun1
我的手机找不到了。I can’t find my phone.
Measure word: 部 or 个.
电话telephone; phone callNoun1
你的电话响了。Your phone is ringing.
号码number (phone, room, etc.)Noun2
这个号码我不认识，不想接。I don’t recognise this number, so I don’t want to answer.
Asked for with 多少, not 什么.
手机号mobile numberNoun2
能把你的手机号给我吗？Could you give me your mobile number?
Short for 手机号码.
静音silent mode; on silentNoun2
电影院里手机要静音。Phones should be on silent in the cinema.
话费phone bill; call chargesNoun2
这个月的话费有点儿高。My phone bill is a bit high this month.
网站websiteNoun2
这个网站很有用。This website is very useful.
网址web addressNoun2
请把网址发给我。Please send me the web address.
网名online name, screen nameNoun2
他的网名很有意思。His online name is very funny.
网课online classNoun2
这个星期我们在家上网课。This week we’re having our lessons online at home.
密码password; PINNoun2
请问，这儿的密码是什么？Excuse me, what’s the password here?
用户名usernameNoun2
你的用户名太长了。Your username is too long.
头像profile pictureNoun2
你换头像了？这张照片真好看。Have you changed your profile picture? This photo is really nice.
短信text messageNoun2
他很少发短信，喜欢打电话。He rarely sends texts; he prefers to call.
Measure word: 条.
语音voice messageNoun2
打字太慢，我给你发语音吧。Typing is too slow — I’ll send you a voice message.
Also simply “voice”, as in a voice function.
电子邮件emailNoun2
我每天早上先看电子邮件。Every morning I check my email first.
Usually shortened to 邮件. Measure word: 封.
邮箱email address; mailboxNoun2
这是我的邮箱，有事给我写邮件。This is my email address — write to me if anything comes up.
视频通话video callNoun2
我每个星期和父母视频通话。I video-call my parents every week.
群group (chat)Noun2
我把照片发到群里了。I’ve posted the photos in the group.
好友good friend; (online) contactNoun2
他的好友里有很多同事。A lot of his contacts are colleagues.
Phrase (5)
打电话to make a phone callPhrase1
晚上我给妈妈打电话。In the evening I phone my mother.
The person called comes before the verb, with 给.
接电话to answer the phonePhrase2
我在开车，不能接电话。I’m driving, so I can’t answer the phone.
