智能

• Pinyin: zhì néng
• Hanzi breakdown: 智 = 知 (know) + 日 (sun), wisdom; 能 = derived from bear pictograph, capability/ability

Meaning

Intelligence; smart; AI-powered. Refers to intelligent behaviour in machines or systems; also used as an adjective meaning 'smart'.

Widely used in technology contexts: 人工智能 (artificial intelligence), 智能手机 (smartphone), 智能家居 (smart home). As an adjective, 智能 describes devices or systems that can perform tasks requiring human-like reasoning. Has become one of the most common tech buzzwords in contemporary Chinese.

Examples

1. 智能手机的出现改变了人们日常生活和工作的方式。 The emergence of smartphones has changed the way people work and live their daily lives.
2. 这家工厂引进了智能生产线，大幅提高了生产效率。 This factory has introduced a smart production line, significantly improving production efficiency.
3. 人工智能技术正在医疗、教育、交通等领域得到广泛应用。 Artificial intelligence technology is being widely applied in fields such as healthcare, education, and transportation.

Usage Guide

Context: technology, science, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这款智能音箱可以控制家里所有的电器设备。(This smart speaker can control all the home appliances in the house.)
• 智能技术的发展为残疾人提供了更多便利。(The development of smart technology has provided more convenience for people with disabilities.)

Don't Say

• 把'智能'和'聪明'在描述人的时候互换 (Don't use 智能 to describe a person as clever — 智能 applies to machines and systems; use 聪明 or 有智慧 when describing human intelligence)

Origin & History

From 智 (wisdom) and 能 (ability, derived from a pictograph of a bear, symbolising strength and capability), together meaning 'intelligent capability'. The compound gained its modern tech sense through the translation of 'artificial intelligence' in the 1980s.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal