数 (shù): This character means “number” or “figure.” In a modern context, it's the core of the word for “data.”
据 (jù): This character means “evidence” or “basis.”
库 (kù): This character means “warehouse,” “storehouse,” or “treasury.” It implies a large, organized place for storage.
The characters combine in a very logical way. 数据 (shùjù) is the modern Chinese word for “data” (literally “numbers and evidence”). Adding 库 (kù), “warehouse,” creates 数据库 (shùjùkù), a “data warehouse.” This literal construction makes the term easy to remember and understand.
Unlike ancient terms steeped in philosophy, the significance of 数据库 (shùjùkù) is entirely modern. Its widespread use reflects China's meteoric rise as a global technology superpower over the past three decades.
In the West, “database” is a standard technical term. In China, it's the same, but the *scale* is staggering. The term 数据库 is intrinsically linked to the backbone of modern Chinese life:
E-commerce: Alibaba's Taobao and JD.com run on some of the largest and most complex databases in the world, handling billions of transactions.
Social Media & Payments: Tencent's WeChat (微信) uses a colossal database to manage over a billion users' chats, payments, and social feeds.
Government & Infrastructure: The Chinese government uses massive databases for everything from citizen identification to the management of its vast high-speed rail network.
So, while the word itself is a direct technical translation with no deep cultural ambiguity, its “significance” is tied to the massive, data-driven systems that underpin the entire Chinese economy and society. Discussing 数据库 is discussing the engine of modern China.
数据库 is used almost exclusively in technical, business, or formal contexts. You won't hear it in casual chat about the weather, but it's essential for any conversation involving technology.
In IT and Business: This is the standard, non-negotiable term. It's used in meetings, technical documents, and job descriptions (e.g., 数据库管理员 - shùjùkù guǎnlǐyuán - Database Administrator). Its connotation is neutral and formal.
In Educated Conversation: Tech-savvy individuals use it just as in English. If a popular app or website goes down, someone might speculate, “可能是他们的数据库出问题了” (Kěnéng shì tāmen de shùjùkù chū wèntí le - “Maybe their database has a problem”).
Connotation: The term is strictly neutral. It's a technical object, like “server” or “algorithm.”