jiēkǒu: 接口 - Interface, Port, Connector, Junction

• Keywords: 接口, jiekou, Chinese interface, Chinese API, USB port in Chinese, computer port Chinese, Chinese word for connector, Chinese for junction, what is jiekou, learn Chinese tech vocabulary
• Summary: An essential modern Chinese term, 接口 (jiēkǒu) broadly means “interface” or “port.” This versatile word describes any point of connection, from physical road junctions and USB ports to abstract software APIs (Application Programming Interface) and even the “liaison” person between two departments. Understanding 接口 is key to discussing technology, business, and infrastructure in today's China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiē kǒu
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A point where two systems, things, or entities meet and interact.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 接口 (jiēkǒu) as any “connecting opening.” It's the place where one thing plugs into another, whether it's a cable into a computer, a local road meeting a highway, a piece of software requesting data from another, or a person acting as the point of contact between two teams. It's a practical, logical word that has expanded its meaning with technology.

• 接 (jiē): To connect, to join, to receive, to meet. The left side is the “hand” radical (扌), indicating an action of bringing things together or receiving something.
• 口 (kǒu): Mouth, opening, entrance. This is one of the simplest pictographs, representing an open mouth or an entrance.
• Together, 接口 (jiēkǒu) literally means a “connecting opening.” This beautiful combination perfectly captures the function of a port, a junction, or an interface—it's the designated opening through which a connection is made.

While not a deeply traditional term like `关系 (guānxi)`, the evolution and widespread use of 接口 (jiēkǒu) are culturally significant in modern China. Its meaning has rapidly expanded from physical intersections to become a cornerstone of the digital age. This linguistic shift mirrors China's own technological leap in recent decades. In the West, the word “interface” similarly evolved from a term in chemistry to a fundamental concept in computing. In the same way, 接口 has become the go-to word for Chinese engineers, tech enthusiasts, and everyday people to describe the myriad connection points in their lives. The term's ubiquity highlights a practical, systems-oriented way of thinking that is prevalent in modern Chinese business and technology—identifying clear points of contact and interaction is crucial for efficiency and communication.

The meaning of 接口 is highly dependent on context. It's used across technical, infrastructural, and even interpersonal domains.

This is the most common usage. It refers to any physical port, jack, or connector.

• Examples: USB 接口, HDMI 接口, 耳机接口 (headphone jack).
• It can also refer to the junction of roads, pipes, or other physical structures.

In the tech world, 接口 is the standard term for an API (Application Programming Interface). It's the “point of connection” that allows two different software applications to communicate with each other.

• Example: “我们正在调用微信支付的接口。” (We are calling the WeChat Pay API.)

Metaphorically, 接口 can refer to a point of contact or a liaison between two groups, departments, or companies. The person responsible for this communication is often called a “接口人” (jiēkǒu rén).

• Example: “你将是我们部门和市场部的接口。” (You will be the point of contact between our department and the marketing department.)

• Example 1:
  • 我的新笔记本电脑只有一个 C 型接口。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de xīn bǐjìběn diànnǎo zhǐyǒu yīgè C xíng jiēkǒu.
  • English: My new laptop only has one Type-C port.
  • Analysis: A very common, everyday use of 接口 to refer to a physical computer port.
• Example 2:
  • 这个软件的接口设计得非常友好，新手也容易上手。
  • Pinyin: Zhège ruǎnjiàn de jiēkǒu shèjì dé fēicháng yǒuhǎo, xīnshǒu yě róngyì shàngshǒu.
  • English: This software's API is designed very well; it's easy for beginners to get started.
  • Analysis: Here, 接口 clearly refers to a software API. The context of “software” and “design” makes the meaning unambiguous. Note: While it could mean UI (`界面`), in a developer context, API is the more likely meaning.
• Example 3:
  • 前方道路施工，高速公路的那个接口暂时关闭了。
  • Pinyin: Qiánfāng dàolù shīgōng, gāosù gōnglù de nàge jiēkǒu zànshí guānbì le.
  • English: Due to road construction ahead, that entrance/exit to the highway is temporarily closed.
  • Analysis: This example shows the original, literal meaning of 接口 as a junction or intersection of roads.
• Example 4:
  • 我们需要一个统一的数据接口来整合所有部门的信息。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào yīgè tǒngyī de shùjù jiēkǒu lái zhěnghé suǒyǒu bùmén de xìnxī.
  • English: We need a unified data interface to integrate the information from all departments.
  • Analysis: This is a common business/IT context, referring to a standardized way for systems to exchange data.
• Example 5:
  • 小王，从今天起，你就是我们和客户之间的接口人。
  • Pinyin: Xiǎo Wáng, cóng jīntiān qǐ, nǐ jiùshì wǒmen hé kèhù zhījiān de jiēkǒu rén.
  • English: Xiao Wang, starting today, you are the liaison/point of contact between us and the client.
  • Analysis: A perfect example of the metaphorical use of 接口 in a business context. The “接口人” is the human “port” for communication.
• Example 6:
  • 你的充电器接口和我的不一样，我没法用。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ de chōngdiànqì jiēkǒu hé wǒ de bù yīyàng, wǒ méi fǎ yòng.
  • English: Your charger's connector is different from mine, so I can't use it.
  • Analysis: A simple, practical sentence you might use daily. 接口 here means the physical connector.
• Example 7:
  • 这个API接口的文档写得不清楚，我们不知道怎么调用。
  • Pinyin: Zhège API jiēkǒu de wéndǎng xiě dé bù qīngchǔ, wǒmen bù zhīdào zěnme diàoyòng.
  • English: The documentation for this API is not clear, we don't know how to call it.
  • Analysis: In tech, it's common to see “API 接口” used together, even though it's slightly redundant. This removes all ambiguity.
• Example 8:
  • 两家公司的系统终于通过一个新的接口成功对接了。
  • Pinyin: Liǎng jiā gōngsī de xìtǒng zhōngyú tōngguò yīgè xīn de jiēkǒu chénggōng duìjiē le.
  • English: The two companies' systems finally docked successfully through a new interface.
  • Analysis: Shows 接口 as the crucial component that enables a successful connection (`对接`).
• Example 9:
  • 请问，这个显示器有 HDMI 接口吗？
  • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, zhège xiǎnshìqì yǒu HDMI jiēkǒu ma?
  • English: Excuse me, does this monitor have an HDMI port?
  • Analysis: A standard question when buying electronics.
• Example 10:
  • 政府设立了一个专门的接口部门，负责处理外商投资事宜。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ shèlì le yīgè zhuānmén de jiēkǒu bùmén, fùzé chǔlǐ wàishāng tóuzī shìyí.
  • English: The government established a dedicated liaison department responsible for handling matters of foreign investment.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the abstract, organizational use of 接口 on a larger scale.

• 接口 vs. 界面 (jièmiàn): This is a critical distinction. While both can be translated as “interface,” 接口 (jiēkǒu) refers to the functional connection point (like an API or a USB port) that allows for data or power transfer. 界面 (jièmiàn) almost always refers to the *User Interface* (UI) or GUI—what the user sees and interacts with on a screen.
  • Correct: 这个应用的界面很漂亮。(The UI of this app is beautiful.)
  • Incorrect: 这个应用的接口很漂亮。 (This sounds strange, as an API or port is about function, not beauty.)
• 接口 vs. 插座 (chāzuò): 接口 is a general term for a port or connector. 插座 (chāzuò) is specifically a wall socket for electrical plugs. You plug your charger *into* a `插座`, and the charger itself has a USB `接口`.
• Over-specializing: A common mistake for learners is to think 接口 *only* means “API” or *only* means “USB port.” Remember its core meaning is “connection point” and its specific translation depends entirely on the context.

• 端口 (duānkǒu) - Port. Often used interchangeably with `接口` in a computer context, but `端口` can be more specific to network ports (e.g., port 80).
• 插座 (chāzuò) - Electrical socket, outlet. The thing in the wall you plug appliances into.
• 连接 (liánjiē) - To connect, link (verb). This is the *action* of using an `接口`.
• 界面 (jièmiàn) - User Interface (UI). The visual part of a program that you interact with.
• 对接 (duìjiē) - To dock, to link up, to connect two systems. Often describes the process that an `接口` facilitates.
• 交叉口 (jiāochākǒu) - Intersection, crossing. A more formal and specific term for a road junction than `接口`.
• 插头 (chātóu) - Plug. The male part that goes into a `插座` (socket) or `接口` (port).