Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== wúrénjī: 无人机 - Drone, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** wurenji, 无人机, drone in Chinese, Chinese for drone, UAV in Chinese, learn Chinese, modern Chinese words, Chinese technology, DJI, 大疆, unmanned aerial vehicle * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **无人机 (wúrénjī)**, the modern Chinese word for "drone" or "Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)". This comprehensive guide breaks down the term's literal meaning ("no-person machine"), explores its cultural significance in tech-savvy China—home to DJI, the world's leading drone manufacturer—and provides practical example sentences for discussing technology, photography, and business. A must-know term for understanding modern China. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** wúrénjī * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 * **Concise Definition:** An unmanned aerial vehicle, commonly known as a drone. * **In a Nutshell:** **无人机 (wúrénjī)** is the standard and most common term for a drone in Mandarin Chinese. The word is incredibly logical and transparent. It literally combines "no person" (无人) with "machine/aircraft" (机) to describe a flying machine that operates without a person on board. It's a modern, neutral term used for everything from hobbyist camera drones to advanced agricultural and military UAVs. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **无 (wú):** This character means "no," "without," or "-less." It signifies absence or negation. * **人 (rén):** This is one of the simplest and most fundamental characters, meaning "person" or "human." It originates from a pictograph of a person standing. * **机 (jī):** This character means "machine" or "mechanism." It's a key component in many modern technology words, such as 手机 (shǒujī, mobile phone) and 飞机 (fēijī, airplane). When combined, **无人 (wúrén)** means "unmanned" or "no person," and **机 (jī)** refers to the machine itself. Therefore, **无人机 (wúrénjī)** translates directly and perfectly to "unmanned machine," or more specifically in context, "unmanned aerial vehicle." ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== The term **无人机 (wúrénjī)** is deeply tied to China's identity as a global technology leader. Unlike in some Western countries where the word "drone" might first evoke military or surveillance connotations, in China, **无人机** is overwhelmingly associated with commercial innovation, consumer technology, and national pride. This is largely due to the dominance of the Shenzhen-based company **大疆 (Dàjiāng)**, known internationally as DJI. DJI controls over 70% of the global consumer drone market. For many Chinese people, **无人机** is synonymous with DJI's sleek, white quadcopters used for stunning aerial photography (航拍, hángpāi) and videography. Comparing it to a Western concept, think of how "Google" became a verb for searching online. In China, while not a verb, the brand **大疆 (Dàjiāng)** is so intertwined with the concept of a consumer drone that the two are almost interchangeable in casual conversation. The term, therefore, carries a strong positive connotation of modernity, creativity, and China's technological prowess on the world stage. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **无人机 (wúrénjī)** is a common word used in a wide variety of modern contexts. Its connotation is generally neutral to positive, and it's used in both formal and informal settings. * **Consumer and Hobbyist Use:** This is the most common context. People talk about buying, flying, or using drones for photography and fun. You'll hear it in electronics markets, parks, and conversations among friends. * **Commercial and Industrial Applications:** The term is used to discuss the rapidly growing use of drones in various industries. This includes: * **Logistics:** **无人机送货 (wúrénjī sònghuò)** - drone delivery, pioneered by companies like JD.com. * **Agriculture:** **农业无人机 (nóngyè wúrénjī)** - agricultural drones used for crop spraying and monitoring. * **Media:** Used by news outlets and film crews for aerial shots. * **Government and Military Use:** In more formal or news-related contexts, **无人机** can refer to surveillance or military drones. The specific type is usually clarified, e.g., **军用无人机 (jūnyòng wúrénjī)** - military drone. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 我哥哥买了一台新的大疆**无人机**，用来航拍。 * Pinyin: Wǒ gēge mǎi le yí tái xīn de Dàjiāng **wúrénjī**, yònglái hángpāi. * English: My older brother bought a new DJI drone for aerial photography. * Analysis: This is a very typical, everyday sentence. It connects the term **无人机** with the famous brand 大疆 (Dàjiāng) and its most popular use, 航拍 (hángpāi). * **Example 2:** * 这家公司正在测试用**无人机**送货，希望能提高效率。 * Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī zhèngzài cèshì yòng **wúrénjī** sònghuò, xīwàng néng tígāo xiàolǜ. * English: This company is testing drone delivery, hoping to increase efficiency. * Analysis: This example highlights a key commercial application in modern China. 送货 (sònghuò) means "to deliver goods." * **Example 3:** * 在这个公园里，操作**无人机**需要得到许可。 * Pinyin: Zài zhège gōngyuán lǐ, cāozuò **wúrénjī** xūyào dédào xǔkě. * English: You need to get a permit to operate a drone in this park. * Analysis: This sentence shows the practical, regulatory side of using drones. 操作 (cāozuò) is a formal word for "to operate" a machine. * **Example 4:** * **无人机**表演点亮了城市的夜空。 * Pinyin: **Wúrénjī** biǎoyǎn diǎnliàng le chéngshì de yèkōng. * English: The drone performance lit up the city's night sky. * Analysis: This refers to the increasingly popular drone light shows, a common feature at major events and festivals in China. * **Example 5:** * 农业**无人机**可以帮助农民喷洒农药，非常方便。 * Pinyin: Nóngyè **wúrénjī** kěyǐ bāngzhù nóngmín pēnsǎ nóngyào, fēicháng fāngbiàn. * English: Agricultural drones can help farmers spray pesticides; it's very convenient. * Analysis: This points to the practical use of drones in agriculture, an important sector in China. * **Example 6:** * 他的梦想是成为一名专业的**无人机**飞手。 * Pinyin: Tā de mèngxiǎng shì chéngwéi yì míng zhuānyè de **wúrénjī** fēishǒu. * English: His dream is to become a professional drone pilot. * Analysis: 飞手 (fēishǒu), literally "fly hand," is the cool, modern term for a drone pilot or operator. * **Example 7:** * 警察使用带热像仪的**无人机**来搜索失踪的登山者。 * Pinyin: Jǐngchá shǐyòng dài rèxiàngyí de **wúrénjī** lái sōusuǒ shīzōng de dēngshānzhě. * English: The police used a drone with a thermal camera to search for the missing hiker. * Analysis: This shows a more serious, official application for drones in emergency services. * **Example 8:** * 这款**无人机**的电池续航时间是三十分钟。 * Pinyin: Zhè kuǎn **wúrénjī** de diànchí xùháng shíjiān shì sānshí fēnzhōng. * English: This model's drone battery life is 30 minutes. * Analysis: A practical sentence you might use when shopping for a drone. 续航 (xùháng) is a key term for battery life/endurance. * **Example 9:** * 军事新闻报道了新型侦察**无人机**的测试。 * Pinyin: Jūnshì xīnwén bàodào le xīnxíng zhēnchá **wúrénjī** de cèshì. * English: The military news reported on the testing of a new type of reconnaissance drone. * Analysis: This example demonstrates the military context. 侦察 (zhēnchá) means "reconnaissance." * **Example 10:** * 小心！你的**无人机**快要撞到树了！ * Pinyin: Xiǎoxīn! Nǐ de **wúrénjī** kuàiyào zhuàngdào shù le! * English: Be careful! Your drone is about to hit a tree! * Analysis: A simple, urgent, and very practical sentence for anyone flying a drone with a friend. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **Don't confuse with 飞机 (fēijī):** A common mistake for beginners is to mix up **无人机 (wúrénjī)** with **飞机 (fēijī)**. Remember, **飞机** is an airplane—a large aircraft that carries people. The key differentiator is the prefix **无人 (wúrén)**, meaning "unmanned." If there are no people on board, it's a **无人机**. * **"Drone" vs. 无人机 Connotation:** While they translate directly, the English word "drone" can carry a heavier military or surveillance undertone for some speakers. In everyday Chinese conversation, **无人机** is much more likely to evoke images of a DJI Phantom used for taking beautiful videos than a military Predator. The Chinese term feels more neutral and tech-oriented in its common usage. * **Using the Brand Name as a Generic Term:** Just as people in the West might say "pass me a Kleenex" instead of "tissue," it's very common in China to hear people refer to a consumer drone simply as a **大疆 (Dàjiāng)**, the brand name for DJI. Using this in casual conversation will make you sound very natural. For example: "你看我新买的大疆" (Look at the new DJI I bought). ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[飞机]] (fēijī) - Airplane. The "manned" equivalent of a **无人机**. * [[航拍]] (hángpāi) - Aerial photography/videography. One of the most popular reasons people buy a **无人机**. * [[遥控]] (yáokòng) - Remote control. This is the technology used to pilot a **无人机**. * [[大疆]] (Dàjiāng) - DJI. The world's largest consumer drone manufacturer, based in China. The brand is almost synonymous with the product itself. * [[机器人]] (jīqìrén) - Robot. A broader category of unmanned machines to which **无人机** belongs. * [[无人驾驶]] (wúrén jiàshǐ) - Unmanned driving (i.e., self-driving). This term applies the same **无人 (wúrén)** concept to cars and other vehicles. * [[送货]] (sònghuò) - To deliver goods. A major commercial application for **无人机** in China's logistics industry. * [[飞手]] (fēishǒu) - Drone pilot. A modern slang/job title, literally "flying hand."