磁卡

• Pinyin: cí kǎ
• Hanzi breakdown: 磁 = 石 + 兹 (magnetic); 卡 = transliteration of 'card'

Meaning

Magnetic card; swipe card. A card with a magnetic stripe used for access control, payment, or identification.

Includes hotel key cards, old-style bank cards, transit cards, and access badges. Being gradually replaced by chip cards and mobile payments, but still common in many contexts.

Examples

1. 酒店前台给了我一张磁卡，说这是房间的门卡。 The hotel front desk gave me a magnetic card, saying it's the key card for my room.
2. 这张磁卡消磁了，刷不了门禁，得去前台重新办一张。 This magnetic card got demagnetized and won't work on the door scanner — I need to get a new one from the front desk.
3. 以前坐公交都是刷磁卡，现在手机一扫就行了。 We used to swipe magnetic cards to ride the bus, but now you just scan your phone.

Usage Guide

Context: technology, access control, everyday

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 你的磁卡放在手机旁边容易消磁。(Your magnetic card can get demagnetized if you keep it near your phone.)
• 进门要刷磁卡。(You need to swipe your card to enter.)

Don't Say

• 我用磁卡支付了支付宝 (Mixing technologies — 磁卡 is physical; Alipay is mobile payment)

Origin & History

Compound of 磁 (magnetic) + 卡 (card). Literally 'magnetic card,' describing the technology used.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal