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. ====== duǎnshìpín: 短视频 - Short Video ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** duanshipin, 短视频, short video in Chinese, what is Douyin, TikTok in Chinese, Chinese social media, shuā duǎnshìpín, Chinese video app, learn Chinese video * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **短视频 (duǎnshìpín)**, the Chinese term for the "short video" phenomenon that has swept China and the world. More than just a video clip, `duǎnshìpín` represents the entire culture of platforms like TikTok and its Chinese counterpart, Douyin (抖音). This page explores what `duǎnshìpín` means, how to use the term, and its immense cultural and economic impact on modern China, making it an essential vocabulary word for anyone interested in contemporary Chinese society. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** duǎnshìpín * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 4+ (A modern, high-frequency term) * **Concise Definition:** A short-form video, typically 15 seconds to a few minutes long, created for and consumed on mobile social media platforms. * **In a Nutshell:** `短视频` isn't just a video that happens to be short; it's a specific genre of content. Think of the fast-paced, vertical, algorithm-driven videos on TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts. In China, this concept is dominated by the app Douyin (抖音). It's a primary form of entertainment, a news source, a marketing channel, and a massive part of daily digital life for hundreds of millions of people. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **短 (duǎn):** Means "short" or "brief." It's the opposite of 长 (cháng), meaning "long." * **视 (shì):** Means "vision," "to look at," or "sight." It's the same character used in 电视 (diànshì - television). * **频 (pín):** Means "frequency" or "channel." It's the same character in 频道 (píndào - TV/radio channel). When combined, **视频 (shìpín)** literally means "vision-frequency," which is the modern Chinese word for "video." Adding **短 (duǎn)** at the beginning simply specifies it as a "short video." The term is a very literal and logical construction. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== `短视频` is one of the most important cultural and technological phenomena in 21st-century China. To understand `短视频` is to understand a huge slice of modern Chinese life. * **The Douyin (抖音) Empire:** The quintessential `短视频` platform in China is Douyin, the domestic version of TikTok (both are owned by ByteDance). It is a cultural behemoth, shaping trends in music, fashion, language, and even cooking. * **Economic Powerhouse:** `短视频` is not just for fun; it's a massive industry. It is the foundation for "livestreaming e-commerce" (直播带货 - zhíbō dàihuò), where influencers (网红 - wǎnghóng) sell billions of dollars worth of products directly through their video streams. This has created a new class of celebrity and a powerful sales channel that is far more integrated into the social platform than in the West. * **Comparison to the West:** While the West has TikTok, the Chinese `短视频` ecosystem is more all-encompassing. Platforms like Douyin integrate e-commerce, local services (food delivery, ticket booking), and extensive social features into a single "super-app." You can watch a video, buy the product featured in it, book a reservation at the restaurant shown, and message a friend about it, all without leaving the app. This reflects a broader trend in Chinese tech towards integrated, all-in-one digital experiences. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== `短视频` is a common topic of conversation in almost any informal setting. * **As a Pastime:** The most common way you'll hear it used is with the verb **刷 (shuā)**, which means "to swipe" or "to scroll." People don't just "watch" short videos (`看短视频`); they "swipe" them (`刷短视频`), reflecting the endless, addictive nature of the feed. * **In Business and Marketing:** Companies will discuss their `短视频` strategy. "我们得做一个**短视频**来推广新产品" (Wǒmen děi zuò yí ge **duǎnshìpín** lái tuīguǎng xīn chǎnpǐn - We need to make a short video to promote the new product). * **As a Source of Information:** For many younger Chinese people, `短视频` is a primary source for news, life hacks, and learning new skills. It's common to hear, "我是从一个**短视频**上学到这个的" (Wǒ shì cóng yí ge **duǎnshìpín** shàng xuédào zhège de - I learned this from a short video). The term is neutral and used in both positive contexts (entertaining, informative) and negative ones (addictive, a waste of time). ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 我休息的时候喜欢**刷短视频**。 * Pinyin: Wǒ xiūxi de shíhou xǐhuān **shuā duǎnshìpín**. * English: When I'm resting, I like to scroll through short videos. * Analysis: This is the most classic and common usage. Note the verb `刷 (shuā)`, which is key to sounding natural. * **Example 2:** * 这个**短视频**太搞笑了，我看了好几遍。 * Pinyin: Zhè ge **duǎnshìpín** tài gǎoxiào le, wǒ kàn le hǎo jǐ biàn. * English: This short video is hilarious, I've watched it several times. * Analysis: Here, `短视频` is used as a simple noun to refer to a specific video. * **Example 3:** * 抖音是中国最火的**短视频**App。 * Pinyin: Dǒuyīn shì Zhōngguó zuì huǒ de **duǎnshìpín** App. * English: Douyin is the most popular short video app in China. * Analysis: This sentence describes the nature of a platform, using `短视频` as an adjective to modify "App". * **Example 4:** * 她想成为一个**短视频**博主。 * Pinyin: Tā xiǎng chéngwéi yí ge **duǎnshìpín** bōzhǔ. * English: She wants to become a short video creator. * Analysis: Shows how the term can be combined with other nouns, like `博主 (bōzhǔ - blogger/creator)`. * **Example 5:** * 很多公司利用**短视频**来做市场营销。 * Pinyin: Hěn duō gōngsī lìyòng **duǎnshìpín** lái zuò shìchǎng yíngxiāo. * English: Many companies use short videos to do marketing. * Analysis: A common usage in a business context. * **Example 6:** * 你别整天看**短视频**了，快去学习！ * Pinyin: Nǐ bié zhěngtiān kàn **duǎnshìpín** le, kuài qù xuéxí! * English: Stop watching short videos all day and go study! * Analysis: A great example of the term used with a negative connotation, often by parents or teachers. * **Example 7:** * 我是从一个**短视频**里学会怎么做这个菜的。 * Pinyin: Wǒ shì cóng yí ge **duǎnshìpín** lǐ xuéhuì zěnme zuò zhège cài de. * English: I learned how to make this dish from a short video. * Analysis: Highlights how `短视频` is a source of practical information and tutorials. * **Example 8:** * **短视频**的算法会根据你的喜好推荐内容。 * Pinyin: **Duǎnshìpín** de suànfǎ huì gēnjù nǐ de xǐhào tuījiàn nèiróng. * English: The short video algorithm will recommend content based on your preferences. * Analysis: A more advanced sentence discussing the technology behind the platforms. * **Example 9:** * 拍一个有创意的**短视频**并不容易。 * Pinyin: Pāi yí ge yǒu chuàngyì de **duǎnshìpín** bìng bù róngyì. * English: It's not easy to shoot a creative short video. * Analysis: Uses the verb `拍 (pāi - to shoot/film)` which is the correct verb for creating a video. * **Example 10:** * **短视频**平台改变了人们的娱乐方式。 * Pinyin: **Duǎnshìpín** píngtái gǎibiàn le rénmen de yúlè fāngshì. * English: Short video platforms have changed the way people entertain themselves. * Analysis: A sentence describing the broad societal impact of the phenomenon. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **`刷 (shuā)` vs. `看 (kàn)`:** The biggest mistake learners make is using `看 (kàn - to watch)` instead of `刷 (shuā - to swipe/scroll)`. While `看` is not grammatically wrong, `刷` is far more authentic and specific. `看视频` means to watch a video (e.g., a movie, a specific YouTube video). `刷视频` or `刷短视频` implies the act of endlessly scrolling through a feed on a mobile device. * **Not just any "video clip":** An English speaker might think `短视频` is a direct translation of "video clip." However, a "clip" often implies it's a small part of a larger work (e.g., a movie clip). A `短视频` is almost always a standalone piece of content created specifically for the format. * **It's a phenomenon, not just a file:** While `一个短视频` is "a short video," the term `短视频` by itself often refers to the entire cultural concept, the industry, and the content genre, much like how "social media" in English refers to more than just a single website. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[抖音]] (Dǒuyīn) - The domestic Chinese version of TikTok and the most dominant short video platform in China. * [[刷]] (shuā) - The essential verb for browsing short videos or social media feeds, meaning "to swipe" or "to scroll." * [[视频]] (shìpín) - The general word for "video." `短视频` is a specific category of `视频`. * [[直播]] (zhíbō) - Livestreaming. A feature heavily integrated into short video apps for e-commerce and interaction. * [[网红]] (wǎnghóng) - "Internet celebrity" or influencer. Most `网红` gain fame through `短视频`. * [[博主]] (bózhǔ) - A general term for a creator, vlogger, or blogger. A `短视频博主` is a short video creator. * [[带货]] (dàihuò) - Literally "to bring goods," this popular slang means "to sell products through influence," most often via `直播` on `短视频` apps. * [[算法]] (suànfǎ) - Algorithm. The engine that powers `短视频` feeds, personalizing content for each user. * [[流量]] (liúliàng) - Internet "traffic," "views," or "engagement." The main currency for creators and platforms.