Tā děng huǒchē de shíhou, yíhuìr tīng yīnyuè, yíhuìr fā duǎnxìn.
While he was waiting for the train, he listened to music for a while, then sent text messages for a while.
Sentence #380557 from Tatoeba · translation adapted
How 短信 is built
Each colour is one part of the character. Parts repeat across thousands of characters, so learning them makes new words easier. See all 214 in our radicals chart.
短duǎnshort
矢arrow · shǐMeaning part
豆bean · dòuSound part
矢 hints at the meaning (arrow); 豆 (dòu) hints at the sound. Compare it with duǎn.
Memory aidArrows 矢 were once used to measure short lengths. 豆 (dòu) gives the sound: short.
信xìnletter
亻person form of 人 · rén
言speech · yán
Memory aidA person 亻 and their word 言: to trust, and a letter.
How to write 短信
短 12 strokes · 信 9 strokes
Watch the order, then press Try writing it and draw each stroke in the grid. Each stroke is checked as you go.
Stroke order chart for 短信 (duǎnxìn). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.
短信 (duǎnxìn) means “text message” or “SMS”. It is an HSK 4 word.
Say it duǎnxìn: duǎn with a 3rd tone, then xìn with a 4th tone. Press Listen at the top of this page to hear it, or Slowly to hear each tone clearly.
Yes. 短信 is written the same way in Simplified and Traditional characters.
Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type duanxin with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 短信 from the suggestions. Typing duanxin into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.
短信 is an HSK 4 word in the HSK 2.0 word lists.
Turn words into conversations
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Sources: meaning and pinyin checked by a native Mandarin teacher against the official HSK lists. Extra meanings from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR). Character parts and stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi.
短duǎn3rd tone, dipping
信xìn4th tone, falling
