shǔbiāo: 鼠标 - Mouse (computer)

• Keywords: shubiao, 鼠标, Chinese for computer mouse, shubiao meaning, what is shubiao, how to say mouse in Chinese, shu biao, computer parts in Chinese, mouse in Mandarin, Chinese technology terms
• Summary: Learn the Chinese word for a computer mouse, 鼠标 (shǔbiāo). This entry breaks down the fascinating and logical way this modern term was created from the characters for “mouse” and “pointer.” Discover its practical use in everyday conversation and tech-related contexts, complete with example sentences and related vocabulary like “keyboard” and “click.” This is your go-to guide for understanding and using 鼠标 (shǔbiāo) correctly.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shǔbiāo (shǔ biāo)
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: The input device used to move a cursor on a computer screen; a computer mouse.
• In a Nutshell: 鼠标 (shǔbiāo) is the standard and universal term for a computer mouse in Mandarin Chinese. The word is a brilliant example of modern Chinese word creation, literally combining “mouse” and “marker/pointer” to describe exactly what the object is and what it does. It's a purely descriptive and logical term.

• 鼠 (shǔ): This character means “mouse” or “rat.” It's one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. You can think of it as a pictograph, with the top part representing teeth and the bottom part representing the body and tail of a rodent.
• 标 (biāo): This character means “mark,” “sign,” “label,” or “pointer.” It is composed of the radical for wood (木, mù) on the left and a phonetic component (票, piào) on the right. Together, they originally suggested a wooden sign or marker.

When you combine them, 鼠标 (shǔbiāo) translates to “mouse-pointer.” This perfectly describes a small, mouse-like device that controls the pointer (cursor) on the screen.

The term 鼠标 (shǔbiāo) is not ancient, but its formation reveals a lot about how the modern Chinese language adapts to new technology. Instead of simply adopting the English sound “mouse” (which would be a transliteration), Chinese created a descriptive compound word, a “calque” or loan-translation. This method contrasts with other modern words like 沙发 (shāfā) for “sofa” or 咖啡 (kāfēi) for “coffee,” which are phonetic transliterations. The choice to create 鼠标 reflects a preference for logical, self-explanatory terms built from existing Chinese characters. This approach is common for tech terms, for example:

• 电脑 (diànnǎo): Electric Brain → Computer
• 手机 (shǒujī): Hand Machine → Mobile Phone

Understanding 鼠标 (shǔbiāo) is not just about learning a vocabulary word; it's a window into the clever and practical way the Chinese language integrates global concepts. It shows a value for clarity and logic, creating a word that a speaker could likely understand on first hearing, even if they'd never encountered the term before.

鼠标 (shǔbiāo) is a standard, neutral term used in all contexts, from casual chat with friends to formal IT support. There are no significant variations in formality. It's the only word you need for a computer mouse. Common collocations include:

• 点击鼠标 (diǎnjī shǔbiāo): to click the mouse
• 双击鼠标 (shuāngjī shǔbiāo): to double-click the mouse
• 移动鼠标 (yídòng shǔbiāo): to move the mouse
• 无线鼠标 (wúxiàn shǔbiāo): wireless mouse
• 游戏鼠标 (yóuxì shǔbiāo): gaming mouse
• 鼠标垫 (shǔbiāo diàn): mouse pad

The word can also be used colloquially to refer to the cursor on the screen, although the more technical term for the cursor is 指针 (zhǐzhēn).

• Example 1:
  • 我的鼠标坏了，我需要买一个新的。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de shǔbiāo huài le, wǒ xūyào mǎi yī gè xīn de.
  • English: My mouse is broken, I need to buy a new one.
  • Analysis: A simple, common sentence expressing a problem. `坏了 (huài le)` is a standard way to say something is broken.
• Example 2:
  • 请用鼠标点击那个链接。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng yòng shǔbiāo diǎnjī nà ge liànjiē.
  • English: Please use the mouse to click that link.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the common pattern `用 (yòng) + [tool] + [verb]`, meaning “to use [tool] to do [verb]”.
• Example 3:
  • 我更喜欢用无线鼠标，因为它很方便。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ gèng xǐhuān yòng wúxiàn shǔbiāo, yīnwèi tā hěn fāngbiàn.
  • English: I prefer using a wireless mouse because it's very convenient.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses an adjective, `无线 (wúxiàn)`, to describe a specific type of mouse.
• Example 4:
  • 你能把鼠标移到屏幕的左上角吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bǎ shǔbiāo yídào píngmù de zuǒ shàngjiǎo ma?
  • English: Can you move the mouse to the top-left corner of the screen?
  • Analysis: This uses the `把 (bǎ)` construction to emphasize the action performed on the object (`鼠标`).
• Example 5:
  • 这个文件的图标需要双击鼠标才能打开。
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge wénjiàn de túbiāo xūyào shuāngjī shǔbiāo cáinéng dǎkāi.
  • English: You need to double-click the mouse on this file's icon to open it.
  • Analysis: `双击 (shuāngjī)` means “double-click,” a key verb associated with mouse usage.
• Example 6:
  • 他的游戏鼠标有很多自定义按钮。
  • Pinyin: Tā de yóuxì shǔbiāo yǒu hěn duō zìdìngyì ànniǔ.
  • English: His gaming mouse has many custom buttons.
  • Analysis: Shows another specific type of mouse, a `游戏鼠标 (yóuxì shǔbiāo)`.
• Example 7:
  • 如果没有鼠标，用笔记本电脑的触摸板也可以。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ méiyǒu shǔbiāo, yòng bǐjìběn diànnǎo de chùmōbǎn yě kěyǐ.
  • English: If you don't have a mouse, using the laptop's trackpad is also fine.
  • Analysis: This sentence contrasts the mouse with its common alternative, the trackpad (`触摸板 chùmōbǎn`).
• Example 8:
  • 我得买一个新鼠标垫，这个太旧了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ děi mǎi yī gè xīn shǔbiāo diàn, zhè ge tài jiù le.
  • English: I have to buy a new mouse pad, this one is too old.
  • Analysis: Introduces the related compound noun `鼠标垫 (shǔbiāo diàn)`, or “mouse pad”.
• Example 9:
  • 电脑好像无法识别我的鼠标。
  • Pinyin: Diànnǎo hǎoxiàng wúfǎ shíbié wǒ de shǔbiāo.
  • English: It seems the computer can't recognize my mouse.
  • Analysis: A common IT problem sentence. `识别 (shíbié)` means to recognize or identify.
• Example 10:
  • 右击鼠标会弹出一个菜单。
  • Pinyin: Yòujī shǔbiāo huì tánchū yī gè càidān.
  • English: Right-clicking the mouse will bring up a menu.
  • Analysis: `右击 (yòujī)` means “to right-click,” another essential verb for mouse operations.

• Not the Animal: The most critical point for a beginner is that 鼠标 (shǔbiāo) *only* refers to the computer device. It never refers to the animal. To talk about the animal, you would simply use 鼠 (shǔ) or the more common word 老鼠 (lǎoshǔ). Context almost always makes this clear, but it's a fundamental distinction.
  • Correct: 我怕老鼠。(Wǒ pà lǎoshǔ.) - I'm afraid of mice.
  • Incorrect: 我怕鼠标。(Wǒ pà shǔbiāo.) - This would sound very strange, like you're afraid of a computer mouse.
• Using the Right Verb: While you can `用 (yòng)` (use) a mouse, be sure to learn the specific action verbs associated with it, such as `点击 (diǎnjī)` (click), `双击 (shuāngjī)` (double-click), and `移动 (yídòng)` (move). Simply saying “I did the mouse” is not correct.

• 键盘 (jiànpán) - Keyboard. The other primary input device used alongside a mouse.
• 电脑 (diànnǎo) - Computer. Literally “electric brain,” the machine the mouse connects to.
• 点击 (diǎnjī) - To click. The main action performed with a mouse.
• 屏幕 (píngmù) - Screen/Monitor. The display where the mouse's actions are visible.
• 指针 (zhǐzhēn) - Pointer/Cursor. The technical term for the arrow on the screen controlled by the mouse.
• 笔记本电脑 (bǐjìběn diànnǎo) - Laptop computer. Often uses a trackpad instead of a mouse.
• 触摸板 (chùmōbǎn) - Trackpad/Touchpad. The built-in mouse alternative on most laptops.
• 硬件 (yìngjiàn) - Hardware. The category of computer components that a mouse belongs to.
• USB接口 (USB jiēkǒu) - USB Port/Interface. The port where a wired mouse is typically connected.