硬件

• Pinyin: yìng jiàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 硬 = 石 (stone) + 更, hard/rigid; 件 = 亻 + 牛, piece/item

Meaning

Hardware. The physical components of a computer or electronic system.

Originally a computing term referring to physical equipment as opposed to software (软件). Now also used metaphorically for physical facilities, infrastructure, or tangible resources in any field. Common in tech, business, and education contexts.

Examples

1. 这台电脑的硬件配置很高，运行速度很快。 This computer has high-end hardware and runs very fast.
2. 学校正在升级教室的硬件设施。 The school is upgrading the hardware facilities in classrooms.
3. 软件再好，硬件跟不上也没用。 No matter how good the software is, it's useless if the hardware can't keep up.

Usage Guide

Context: technology, infrastructure, business

Tone: technical

Do Say

• 硬件出问题了。(There's a hardware problem.)
• 我们需要更新硬件设备。(We need to update the hardware equipment.)

Don't Say

• 这个程序的硬件有bug (Programs have software bugs — 硬件 is physical components)

Origin & History

Compound of 硬 (hard, rigid) and 件 (piece, item). Calque from English 'hardware,' contrasting with 软件 (software).

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal