短信

• Pinyin: duǎn xìn
• Hanzi breakdown: 短 (duǎn) — short; 信 (xìn) — message, letter

Meaning

Text message; SMS. A short message sent through a mobile phone.

Although less common than before due to WeChat, 短信 is still widely used for verification codes, bank notifications, and official communications in China.

Examples

1. 我给他发了一条短信。 I sent him a text message.
2. 你收到我的短信了吗？ Did you receive my text message?
3. 手机上收到了一条验证短信。 I received a verification text on my phone.

Usage Guide

Context: communication, mobile phones, daily life

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 请给我发一条短信。(Please send me a text message.)
• 我没有收到你的短信。(I didn't receive your text message.)

Don't Say

• 在中国，日常聊天用'发微信'比'发短信'更常见 — in modern China, people say 发微信 for casual messaging. 短信 is mainly for official or automated messages now.

Origin & History

Compound of 短 (short) and 信 (message, letter). Literally 'short message' — coined in the mobile phone era.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal