bǐjìběn: 笔记本 - Notebook, Laptop

• Keywords: 笔记本, bijiben, Chinese for notebook, Chinese for laptop, biji ben, 笔记本电脑, learn Chinese words, what does bijiben mean, Chinese vocabulary
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 笔记本 (bǐjìběn), a versatile term that means both a physical paper notebook and a laptop computer. This guide will teach you how to easily distinguish between the two meanings based on context, break down the characters, and provide practical example sentences for using 笔记本 correctly in modern conversation.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bǐ jì běn
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: A paper notebook for writing, or a portable laptop computer.
• In a Nutshell: 笔记本 (bǐjìběn) literally translates to “pen-record-book,” which perfectly describes a paper notebook. However, in modern Chinese, it is most commonly used to refer to a laptop computer. Think of it as a shortening of the full term, `笔记本电脑` (bǐjìběn diànnǎo), which means “notebook electric brain.” The specific meaning—paper or electronic—is almost always clear from the context of the conversation.

• 笔 (bǐ): Pen, pencil, or any writing instrument. The character itself is a combination of the “bamboo” radical (竹) on top and the character for “fur/hair” (毛) on the bottom, a clear reference to the original Chinese writing brush made of a bamboo handle and animal hair.
• 记 (jì): To record, to note, to remember. This character is composed of the “speech” radical (言) and “oneself” (己), suggesting the act of recording one's own words or thoughts.
• 本 (běn): Root, origin, or book. It's a pictogram of a tree (木) with a line at the bottom indicating its roots. By extension, it became a measure word for books and other bound items.

When combined, 笔记本 (bǐjìběn) forms a logical and descriptive term: a “book for recording with a pen.” This original meaning was seamlessly adapted to describe the modern laptop, which serves a similar function in a digital format.

The dual meaning of 笔记本 is a perfect example of how the Chinese language evolves to accommodate new technology. Instead of inventing a completely new word, the existing, logical term was simply expanded. This linguistic efficiency is common in Mandarin. In English, while “notebook” can refer to a laptop, the word “laptop” is far more common and specific in everyday conversation. In China, the opposite is true. 笔记本 (bǐjìběn) is the default, everyday word for a laptop. Using the full term `笔记本电脑 (bǐjìběn diànnǎo)` can sound slightly formal or is used when a speaker wants to be extremely clear and avoid any possible ambiguity. This reflects a cultural and linguistic tendency towards brevity and relying on context to fill in the gaps.

Understanding which “notebook” is being discussed is all about context clues.

This is the literal meaning. You'll hear it used this way in schools, offices, or stationery shops. Look for surrounding words related to writing, school, or paper.

• Common Collocations: 写 (xiě - to write), 买 (mǎi - to buy), 一页 (yí yè - one page), 纸 (zhǐ - paper).

This is the most common meaning in daily life. Context clues will involve technology, work, internet, or electricity.

• Common Collocations: 电脑 (diànnǎo - computer), 上网 (shàngwǎng - to go online), 电池 (diànchí - battery), 打字 (dǎzì - to type), 工作 (gōngzuò - to work).

• Example 1:
  • 我上课需要一个新的笔记本。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ shàngkè xūyào yī gè xīn de bǐjìběn.
  • English: I need a new notebook for class.
  • Analysis: The context “上课 (shàngkè)” meaning “to attend class” makes it clear that this refers to a paper notebook for taking notes.
• Example 2:
  • 我的笔记本太旧了，运行得很慢。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de bǐjìběn tài jiù le, yùnxíng de hěn màn.
  • English: My laptop is too old, it runs very slowly.
  • Analysis: The verb “运行 (yùnxíng)” meaning “to run” or “to operate” is used for software or machines, immediately identifying 笔记本 as a laptop.
• Example 3:
  • 请把你的电话号码写在我的笔记本上。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng bǎ nǐ de diànhuà hàomǎ xiě zài wǒ de bǐjìběn shàng.
  • English: Please write your phone number in my notebook.
  • Analysis: The verb “写 (xiě)” meaning “to write” points directly to a physical, paper notebook.
• Example 4:
  • 别忘了带你的笔记本去参加会议。
  • Pinyin: Bié wàngle dài nǐ de bǐjìběn qù cānjiā huìyì.
  • English: Don't forget to bring your laptop to the meeting.
  • Analysis: In a modern business context like a “会议 (huìyì - meeting)”, bringing a 笔记本 almost always means bringing a laptop for presentations or taking digital notes.
• Example 5:
  • 这家咖啡馆的Wi-Fi很快，很多人在这里用笔记本。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā kāfēiguǎn de Wi-Fi hěn kuài, hěn duō rén zài zhèlǐ yòng bǐjìběn.
  • English: The Wi-Fi at this coffee shop is very fast, a lot of people use their laptops here.
  • Analysis: The mention of “Wi-Fi” is a clear technological indicator that 笔记本 refers to laptops.
• Example 6:
  • 我的笔记本没电了，你有充电器吗？
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de bǐjìběn méi diàn le, nǐ yǒu chōngdiànqì ma?
  • English: My laptop is out of battery, do you have a charger?
  • Analysis: “没电了 (méi diàn le - out of electricity/battery)” and “充电器 (chōngdiànqì - charger)” are unambiguous context clues for a laptop.
• Example 7:
  • 我在文具店买了一个很漂亮的笔记本。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zài wénjùdiàn mǎi le yī gè hěn piàoliang de bǐjìběn.
  • English: I bought a very beautiful notebook at the stationery store.
  • Analysis: “文具店 (wénjùdiàn - stationery store)” is a place where you buy paper goods, not electronics, clarifying the meaning.
• Example 8:
  • 你觉得苹果的笔记本怎么样？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ juéde Píngguǒ de bǐjìběn zěnmeyàng?
  • English: What do you think of Apple's laptops?
  • Analysis: “苹果 (Píngguǒ - Apple)” is a famous technology brand, so its 笔记本 must be a laptop (MacBook).
• Example 9:
  • 他把所有的密码都记在了同一个笔记本里。
  • Pinyin: Tā bǎ suǒyǒu de mìmǎ dōu jì zài le tóng yī gè bǐjìběn lǐ.
  • English: He recorded all of his passwords in the same notebook.
  • Analysis: While this could be a digital file, the phrasing “记在了…里 (jì zài le… lǐ - recorded in…)” strongly implies a physical notebook, which is a common (though insecure) practice.
• Example 10:
  • A: 你需要什么电脑？(Nǐ xūyào shénme diànnǎo?) - What kind of computer do you need?
  • B: 我想买一台笔记本，因为我经常出差。(Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī tái bǐjìběn, yīnwèi wǒ chángcháng chūchāi.) - I want to buy a laptop because I travel for work often.
  • Analysis: This dialogue shows 笔记本 used as a specific category of “电脑 (diànnǎo - computer)” in contrast to a desktop. The measure word “台 (tái)” is also used for machines.

• The Main Pitfall: The most common mistake for learners is rigidly translating 笔记本 as only a paper notebook. Remember, its most frequent modern usage is for a laptop.
• Forgetting Context is Key: Don't panic if you hear the word. The surrounding words will almost always tell you the meaning. Is the topic about school supplies or technology?
• Laptop vs. Notebook (English vs. Chinese): In English, “laptop” is the dominant term for a portable computer. In Chinese, 笔记本 is the dominant term. While you can say `手提电脑 (shǒutí diànnǎo)`, it's less common in mainland China's daily speech.
• When to be Specific: If you are in a situation where context is truly ambiguous (e.g., packing a bag), you can clarify.
  • To specify a paper notebook: “是纸的笔记本吗？” (Shì zhǐ de bǐjìběn ma? - Is it a paper notebook?)
  • To specify a laptop: “你是说笔记本电脑吗？” (Nǐ shì shuō bǐjìběn diànnǎo ma? - Do you mean a laptop computer?)

• 笔记本电脑 (bǐjìběn diànnǎo) - The full, unambiguous term for a laptop computer. Literally “notebook electric brain.”
• 电脑 (diànnǎo) - The general word for “computer.”
• 台式机 (táishìjī) - Desktop computer. The direct counterpart to a 笔记本. Literally “platform-style machine.”
• 本子 (běnzi) - A more common and colloquial word for a paper notebook, exercise book, or booklet. Often used interchangeably with the paper version of 笔记本.
• 平板 (píngbǎn) - Tablet computer (e.g., an iPad). Short for `平板电脑` (píngbǎn diànnǎo).
• 日记本 (rìjìběn) - A diary or a journal. Literally “day-record-book.”
• 文具 (wénjù) - Stationery. The category of goods that includes paper notebooks, pens, etc.
• 手提电脑 (shǒutí diànnǎo) - A more formal term for a laptop, more common in regions like Hong Kong and Taiwan. Literally “hand-carry electric brain.”