dēnglù: 登录 - To Log In, To Sign In

• Keywords: 登录, denglu, log in Chinese, sign in Chinese, Chinese for log in, how to log in in Chinese, 登录 vs 注册, enter username and password Chinese, digital Chinese vocabulary
• Summary: An essential term for navigating the modern world, 登录 (dēnglù) is the standard Chinese verb for “to log in” or “to sign in” to a website, application, or computer system. This page breaks down the meaning of 登录, how it differs from “register” (注册), and provides numerous practical examples. Understanding dēnglù is a fundamental step for any learner wanting to use the Chinese internet, from social media apps like WeChat to e-commerce sites like Taobao.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): dēnglù
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To enter credentials to gain access to a digital system or personal account.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 登录 (dēnglù) as unlocking a digital door. It's the action you take when you already have an account and need to provide your username and password to get inside. It's the second step in your online journey, right after the one-time action of creating an account (注册, zhùcè).

• 登 (dēng): To ascend, to climb, to mount, or to publish (as in a newspaper). Imagine climbing a set of stairs or boarding a ship. It implies moving up to or onto a specific platform.
• 录 (lù): To record, to write down; a record or a registry. This character is associated with official lists and registered information.
• Combined Meaning: The two characters create a vivid metaphor. 登录 (dēnglù) literally means “to ascend and be recorded” or “to mount the registry.” This perfectly captures the act of entering a secure digital space where your access is officially noted in a system log or record. It’s more formal than just “getting in”—it’s about officially marking your presence.

While 登录 (dēnglù) is a modern, technical term, its characters give it a slightly more formal feel than the English “log in.” In the West, “log in” is purely functional. In Chinese, the term evokes a sense of entering an official, registered space. This reflects the structure of China's vast and highly integrated digital ecosystem. Accessing services on platforms like WeChat (微信), Alipay (支付宝), or Taobao (淘宝) is not just a casual action; it's an entry into a registered system where your digital identity (账号, zhànghào) is key. The term 登录 reinforces this idea of a formal, recorded entry into a specific digital domain. It's the gatekeeper to nearly all aspects of modern Chinese life, from communication and shopping to banking and government services.

You will encounter 登录 constantly when navigating the Chinese internet. It is the standard, neutral term used in all digital contexts.

• On Websites and Apps: It's the button you click or the action you are prompted to take. You will almost always see it next to fields for 用户名 (yònghùmíng) - username, and 密码 (mìmǎ) - password.
• In Instructions: A common phrase you'll see is 请先登录 (qǐng xiān dēnglù), meaning “Please log in first.”
• Formality: The term is neutral and used everywhere, from casual gaming apps to formal online banking portals. There is no informal slang equivalent; 登录 is the one word everyone uses.

• Example 1:
  • 我忘了我的登录密码。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ wàngle wǒ de dēnglù mìmǎ.
  • English: I forgot my login password.
  • Analysis: A very common and practical sentence. Here, 登录 acts as an adjective modifying “password” (密码).
• Example 2:
  • 请在这里输入您的用户名和密码进行登录。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng zài zhèlǐ shūrù nín de yònghùmíng hé mìmǎ jìnxíng dēnglù.
  • English: Please enter your username and password here to log in.
  • Analysis: 进行登录 (jìnxíng dēnglù) is a slightly more formal way to say “carry out the act of logging in.” You will often see this in official instructions.
• Example 3:
  • 你需要先登录才能发表评论。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào xiān dēnglù cáinéng fābiǎo pínglùn.
  • English: You need to log in first before you can post a comment.
  • Analysis: This shows the common structure of needing to 登录 to access more features on a website.
• Example 4:
  • 这个网站支持微信登录。
  • Pinyin: Zhège wǎngzhàn zhīchí Wēixìn dēnglù.
  • English: This website supports logging in with WeChat.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates a common feature in China: using a master account like WeChat to 登录 to other services.
• Example 5:
  • 我的电脑设置了自动登录。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de diànnǎo shèzhìle zìdòng dēnglù.
  • English: My computer is set to log in automatically.
  • Analysis: 自动 (zìdòng) means “automatic,” a useful word to pair with 登录.
• Example 6:
  • 登录失败，请检查您的网络连接。
  • Pinyin: Dēnglù shībài, qǐng jiǎnchá nín de wǎngluò liánjiē.
  • English: Login failed, please check your internet connection.
  • Analysis: 失败 (shībài) means “to fail.” This is a common error message.
• Example 7:
  • 为什么我登录不上去我的邮箱？
  • Pinyin: Wèishéme wǒ dēnglù bu shàngqù wǒ de yóuxiāng?
  • English: Why can't I log in to my email?
  • Analysis: The directional complement 不上去 (bu shàngqù) adds the sense of “unable to successfully complete the action” of logging in. It's very colloquial.
• Example 8:
  • 您的账号已在另一台设备上登录。
  • Pinyin: Nín de zhànghào yǐ zài lìngyī tái shèbèi shàng dēnglù.
  • English: Your account has been logged into on another device.
  • Analysis: A common security notification. 已 (yǐ) means “already.”
• Example 9:
  • 每次登录都需要输入验证码，真麻烦。
  • Pinyin: Měi cì dēnglù dōu xūyào shūrù yànzhèngmǎ, zhēn máfan.
  • English: Having to enter a verification code every time I log in is such a hassle.
  • Analysis: This sentence connects 登录 with another key digital term, 验证码 (yànzhèngmǎ), or verification code.
• Example 10:
  • 为了您的账户安全，请及时退出登录。
  • Pinyin: Wèile nín de zhànghù ānquán, qǐng jíshí tuìchū dēnglù.
  • English: For the security of your account, please log out in a timely manner.
  • Analysis: This shows the antonym phrase 退出登录 (tuìchū dēnglù), which means “to log out.” Sometimes just 退出 (tuìchū) is used.

The most critical mistake for learners is confusing 登录 (dēnglù) with 注册 (zhùcè).

• 登录 (dēnglù): To Log In. You already have an account. This is a repeated action.
• 注册 (zhùcè): To Register / Sign Up. You are creating a new account for the first time. This is a one-time action.

Incorrect Usage: `我昨天注册了淘宝，但是今天我不能再注册了。 (Wǒ zuótiān zhùcè le Táobǎo, dànshì jīntiān wǒ bù néng zài zhùcè le.)` Why it's wrong: This means “I registered for Taobao yesterday, but today I can't register again.” Of course you can't, you already have an account! Correct Usage: `我昨天注册了淘宝，但是今天我登录不进去了。 (Wǒ zuótiān zhùcè le Táobǎo, dànshì jīntiān wǒ dēnglù bu jìnqù le.)` English: I signed up for Taobao yesterday, but today I can't log in. Another point of confusion is with 登记 (dēngjì).

• 登录 (dēnglù): For digital systems (computers, websites, apps).
• 登记 (dēngjì): For physical registration (checking into a hotel, registering for an event, signing in at a front desk).

You 登录 your email account, but you 登记 at a hotel reception.

• 注册 (zhùcè) - To Register/Sign Up. The action you must do before you can 登录.
• 退出 (tuìchū) - To Log Out/Exit. The direct antonym of 登录.
• 账号 (zhànghào) - Account/Account Number. The digital identity that you are logging into.
• 用户名 (yònghùmíng) - Username. The name or ID you use to log in.
• 密码 (mìmǎ) - Password. The secret code used to log in.
• 验证码 (yànzhèngmǎ) - Verification Code. The temporary code (often sent via SMS) used for secure login.
• 上线 (shàngxiàn) - To Go Online. A more general term for being active online, especially on messaging or social apps.
• 下线 (xiàxiàn) - To Go Offline. The opposite of 上线.
• 登记 (dēngjì) - To Register/Check In. Used for physical locations like hotels or conferences, not digital systems. A common point of confusion.
• 注销 (zhùxiāo) - To Deregister/Delete an Account. The action of permanently closing your account.