Quick Summary
Keywords: 信息, xìnxī, what does xinxi mean, information in Chinese, message in Chinese, Chinese word for news, HSK 3 信息, learn Chinese information, Chinese for IT, personal information in Chinese.
Summary: “信息” (xìnxī) is the fundamental Chinese word for “information,” “news,” or a “message.” As an essential HSK 3 term, understanding “信息” is crucial for navigating modern China, from sending a simple text message to discussing technology and data privacy. This page explores its core meaning, cultural significance in the digital age, and practical usage, helping you distinguish it from similar words like “消息” (xiāoxi).
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): xìnxī
Part of Speech: Noun
HSK Level: HSK 3
Concise Definition: The primary Chinese word for information, data, news, or a message.
In a Nutshell: Think of “信息” as the broadest possible term for “information.” It's the “stuff” you know, learn, or receive. It can be a news report on TV, the data in a spreadsheet, a text message on your phone, or a public announcement. It's a neutral, versatile word that forms the backbone of communication in the digital and analog worlds.
Character Breakdown
信 (xìn): This character originally depicted a person and their word, symbolizing “trust,” “faith,” and “truth.” It also came to mean “letter” or “message,” something trustworthy that carries words.
息 (xī): This character's original meaning is “to breathe” or “to rest.” From this, it extended to mean “news” or “interest” (as in financial interest, 利息 lìxī), like the “breath” or life of a matter.
The combination “信息” (xìnxī) literally joins “message” (信) with “news/breath” (息). It beautifully captures the modern concept of “information” – the substance and news (息) contained within a transmitted message (信).
Cultural Context and Significance
While “信息” directly translates to “information,” its context in modern China is unique. China's entry into the “Information Age” (信息时代 - xìnxī shídài) has been incredibly rapid, but it's also shaped by state control.
Unlike the often-unfiltered “free flow of information” idealized in the West, “信息” in China is frequently curated and monitored. Concepts like “information censorship” (信息审查 - xìnxī shěnchá) are part of daily digital life. This means that the reliability and source of “信息” are often questioned by citizens in a way that might be different from in the West.
Furthermore, the concept of “personal information” (个人信息 - gèrén xìnxī) has become a massive topic. With the dominance of super-apps like WeChat (微信 Wēixìn), which handle everything from payment to social life, the protection of personal “信息” is a major concern for both the government and the public, leading to new data privacy laws. Understanding “信息” is not just about language; it's about understanding the digital landscape of modern China.
Practical Usage in Modern China
“信息” is an everyday word used across all levels of formality.
In Daily Conversation: It's most commonly used to refer to text messages or digital messages. “Did you get my message?” is “你收到我的信息了吗？” (Nǐ shōudào wǒ de xìnxī le ma?).
In Business and Technology: It's the core of many technical terms. “Information Technology” is “信息技术” (xìnxī jìshù), or IT. “Customer information” is “客户信息” (kèhù xìnxī).
In Formal Contexts: It refers to official information or announcements. “Please pay attention to the latest information on the website” (请注意网站上的最新信息 - Qǐng zhùyì wǎngzhàn shàng de zuìxīn xìnxī).
Its connotation is generally neutral. It's a simple descriptor for a set of facts or data.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
我刚给你发了一条信息，你看到了吗？
Pinyin: Wǒ gāng gěi nǐ fāle yī tiáo xìnxī, nǐ kàndào le ma?
English: I just sent you a message, did you see it?
Analysis: This is one of the most common uses of “信息,” referring to a single digital message (like a text or WeChat message). The measure word “条” (tiáo) is typically used for messages.
Example 2:
为了保护您的账户安全，请不要泄露个人信息。
Pinyin: Wèile bǎohù nín de zhànghù ānquán, qǐng bùyào xièlòu gèrén xìnxī.
English: To protect your account security, please do not reveal your personal information.
Analysis: Here, “信息” is used in a formal context to mean “personal information” or “data.” This is common in banking, online services, and official documents.
Example 3:
这个网站提供了很多关于旅行的有用信息。
Pinyin: Zhège wǎngzhàn tígōngle hěn duō guānyú lǚxíng de yǒuyòng xìnxī.
English: This website provides a lot of useful information about travel.
Analysis: This shows “信息” in its general sense of “information.” It's a collection of facts, tips, and data about a topic.
Example 4:
他大学的专业是信息技术。
Pinyin: Tā dàxué de zhuānyè shì xìnxī jìshù.
English: His major in university is Information Technology (IT).
Analysis: “信息” is a key part of compound words, especially in science and technology. “信息技术” (IT) is a prime example.
Example 5:
我们目前还没有关于此事的任何信息。
Pinyin: Wǒmen mùqián hái méiyǒu guānyú cǐ shì de rènhé xìnxī.
English: We currently don't have any information regarding this matter.
Analysis: This demonstrates a neutral, professional way to state a lack of information. It's common in customer service or official statements.
Example 6:
在信息时代，我们每天都会接触到海量信息。
Pinyin: Zài xìnxī shídài, wǒmen měitiān dōu huì jiēchù dào hǎiliàng xìnxī.
English: In the Information Age, we are exposed to a massive amount of information every day.
Analysis: This sentence uses “信息” twice to illustrate a broader, societal concept: the “Information Age” and the “massive amount of information” that defines it.
Example 7:
招聘广告上的信息不完整。
Pinyin: Zhāopìn guǎnggào shàng de xìnxī bù wánzhěng.
English: The information on the job advertisement is incomplete.
Analysis: This is a practical example of evaluating the quality or completeness of a set of information.
Example 8:
谢谢你提供的信息，非常感谢！
Pinyin: Xièxie nǐ tígōng de xìnxī, fēicháng gǎnxiè!
English: Thank you for the information you provided, I really appreciate it!
Analysis: A simple and polite way to thank someone for giving you helpful information, whether it was a contact number, directions, or a piece of advice.
Example 9:
这是一个假信息，不要相信。
Pinyin: Zhè shì yíge jiǎ xìnxī, bùyào xiāngxìn.
English: This is fake information (or a scam message), don't believe it.
Analysis: In the age of social media, “假信息” (jiǎ xìnxī) is the equivalent of “misinformation” or “fake news.”
Example 10:
信息不对称是导致市场失灵的原因之一。
Pinyin: Xìnxī bùduìchèn shì dǎozhì shìchǎng shīlíng de yuányīn zhīyī.
English: Information asymmetry is one of the causes of market failure.
Analysis: This shows the high-level, academic use of “信息” in fields like economics. It proves the term's versatility from casual texts to complex theories.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 信息 (xìnxī) and 消息 (xiāoxi).
信息 (xìnxī): Broad, general, can be data. It's the overarching category.
消息 (xiāoxi): A specific piece of news, often new or recently heard. It's a subset of “信息”.
Rule of Thumb: If you can replace “information” with “a piece of news,” you can probably use `消息`. If you are talking about data, technology, or “information” in a very general sense, you must use `信息`.
Correct (more natural): 我有一个好消息要告诉你！ (Wǒ yǒu yíge hǎo xiāoxi yào gàosù nǐ!) - I have a piece of good news to tell you!
Correct (but slightly formal/technical): 我有一个重要的信息要告诉你。 (Wǒ yǒu yíge zhòngyào de xìnxī yào gàosù nǐ.) - I have an important piece of information to tell you. (This sounds like you're about to provide a briefing or data.)
Common Mistake: Using `消息` for technical concepts.
消息 (xiāoxi) - A piece of news; a message. More specific and often more timely than `信息`.
资料 (zīliào) - Materials, data, resources (like documents or files for a project). A collection of organized `信息`.
数据 (shùjù) - Data, especially numerical or digital data used in computing or analysis. A very specific type of `信息`.
情报 (qíngbào) - Intelligence (e.g., military, corporate). `信息` that is secret, valuable, and often gathered covertly.
通讯 (tōngxùn) - Communication, correspondence. The process and technology used to transmit `信息`.
通知 (tōngzhī) - A notice, a notification. A formal, one-way dispatch of `信息` (e.g., from a school or office).
短信 (duǎnxìn) - SMS, text message. A specific format for delivering a short `信息`.
资讯 (zīxùn) - Information, news (often used in media contexts, like `新闻资讯` - news and information). A slightly more formal synonym for news-related `信息`.
提示 (tíshì) - A hint, a prompt, a tip. A small, helpful piece of `信息`.
知识 (zhīshi) - Knowledge. `信息` becomes `知识` once it is understood, processed, and integrated by a person.