diǎnjī: 点击 - To Click, Tap

• Keywords: 点击, dianji, how to say click in Chinese, Chinese for click, meaning of 点击, click a link in Chinese, tap in Chinese, 点击 链接, 点击 下载, Chinese for tap screen, computer terms in Chinese
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word for “click,” 点击 (diǎnjī), a fundamental term for navigating the modern Chinese internet. This guide explains the meaning of 点击, how to use it when you “click a link” (点击链接) or “click to download” (点击下载), and its crucial role on websites and apps. Discover the difference between “click” and “press” in Chinese and master its usage with practical examples.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): diǎnjī
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To click a mouse button or tap a touchscreen.
• In a Nutshell: 点击 (diǎnjī) is the direct Chinese equivalent of the English verb “to click” in a digital context. It describes the action of using a mouse or your finger to interact with a graphical user interface. Whether you're selecting an icon, opening a file, or following a hyperlink on a website or smartphone, 点击 is the word you need. It's a cornerstone of digital literacy in Chinese.

• 点 (diǎn): This character's original meaning is a “dot” or a “point.” As a verb, it means “to point” or “to touch lightly.” Think of it as aiming the cursor at a specific point on the screen.
• 击 (jī): This character means “to strike,” “to hit,” or “to beat.” It implies a quick, decisive action, like hitting a drum.

When combined, 点击 (diǎnjī) creates a vivid and accurate image: “to point and strike.” This perfectly captures the two-part action of moving a cursor to a precise location (点) and then decisively pressing (击) the button.

While many Chinese words have deep roots in ancient philosophy, 点击 (diǎnjī) is a thoroughly modern term, born from the digital age. Its cultural significance doesn't come from history, but from its central role in China's technological revolution. In both Western and Chinese culture, the “click” is the fundamental action of the internet age. It's the digital equivalent of turning a page or opening a door. What's unique in a Chinese context is the sheer scale. For over a billion Chinese internet users, 点击 is the verb that powers communication on WeChat (微信), drives the world's largest e-commerce market on Taobao (淘宝) and JD.com (京东), and opens a gateway to information on Baidu (百度). Unlike a culturally nuanced term like 关系 (guānxi), 点击 is a rare example of a near-perfect 1:1 linguistic mapping with its English counterpart. The concept is universal; 点击 is simply the Chinese word for the action that connects everyone in the global digital village. Its importance lies in its universality and its function as the primary verb of digital participation in modern China.

点击 (diǎnjī) is used ubiquitously across all digital platforms. Its connotation is neutral and its formality depends on the context, but it's universally understood.

• On Websites and Software: It's the standard instruction for user interaction. You will see it on buttons, in tutorials, and in pop-up messages. It is the go-to verb for telling a user what to do.
• On Mobile Devices: Although it literally means “to click,” it is universally used and understood to mean “to tap” on touchscreens. No one would find it strange to be told to 点击 a button on their phone screen.
• In Marketing & E-commerce: It serves as a direct Call to Action (CTA). Phrases like “点击购买” (Click to Buy) or “点击了解更多” (Click to Learn More) are extremely common.
• In Data Analytics: The word can be used to form other technical terms, most notably 点击率 (diǎnjīlǜ), which means “Click-Through Rate” (CTR), a vital metric in online advertising.

• Example 1:
  • 如果你想了解更多，请点击这个链接。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ xiǎng liǎojiě gèng duō, qǐng diǎnjī zhège liànjiē.
  • English: If you want to learn more, please click this link.
  • Analysis: A standard, polite instruction found on countless websites. This is one of the most common uses of the word.
• Example 2:
  • 点击下载按钮，开始下载文件。
  • Pinyin: Diǎnjī xiàzài ànniǔ, kāishǐ xiàzài wénjiàn.
  • English: Click the download button to start downloading the file.
  • Analysis: A direct command. The subject (“you”) is omitted, which is very common in Chinese instructions.
• Example 3:
  • 我不小心点击了“删除”！
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bù xiǎoxīn diǎnjī le “shānchú”!
  • English: I accidentally clicked “delete”!
  • Analysis: Shows the use of 点击 in everyday speech to describe a past action. The particle `了 (le)` indicates the completion of the click.
• Example 4:
  • 你需要先点击“同意”才能继续。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào xiān diǎnjī “tóngyì” cáinéng jìxù.
  • English: You need to first click “Agree” before you can continue.
  • Analysis: Common in software installation or terms of service agreements.
• Example 5:
  • 这个广告的点击率非常高。
  • Pinyin: Zhège guǎnggào de diǎnjīlǜ fēicháng gāo.
  • English: This advertisement's click-through rate is very high.
  • Analysis: This example shows the term used within a compound noun, `点击率 (diǎnjīlǜ)`, demonstrating its use in a business or marketing context.
• Example 6:
  • 点击屏幕右上角的菜单图标。
  • Pinyin: Diǎnjī píngmù yòu shàng jiǎo de càidān túbiāo.
  • English: Tap the menu icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
  • Analysis: A typical instruction for a mobile app. Here, 点击 clearly means “tap.”
• Example 7:
  • 双击是快速点击鼠标两次。
  • Pinyin: Shuāngjī shì kuàisù diǎnjī shǔbiāo liǎng cì.
  • English: To double-click is to quickly click the mouse twice.
  • Analysis: This sentence defines a related concept, 双击 (shuāngjī), using 点击 as the core action.
• Example 8:
  • 不要点击任何来自陌生人的链接。
  • Pinyin: Búyào diǎnjī rènhé láizì mòshēngrén de liànjiē.
  • English: Don't click any links from strangers.
  • Analysis: A common warning related to internet security.
• Example 9:
  • 我应该点击“确定”还是“取消”？
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yīnggāi diǎnjī “quèdìng” háishì “qǔxiāo”?
  • English: Should I click “Confirm” or “Cancel”?
  • Analysis: A question a user might ask when faced with a dialogue box.
• Example 10:
  • 点击购买，享受五折优惠！
  • Pinyin: Diǎnjī gòumǎi, xiǎngshòu wǔ zhé yōuhuì!
  • English: Click to buy and enjoy a 50% discount!
  • Analysis: A classic, punchy call-to-action in e-commerce.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 点击 (diǎnjī) with verbs for interacting with physical objects.

• `点击 (diǎnjī)` vs. `按 (àn)`
  • `点击 (diǎnjī)` is exclusively for digital interfaces: a mouse click or a screen tap.
  • `按 (àn)` means “to press” and is used for physical buttons like those on a keyboard, an elevator, a remote control, or a doorbell.
  • Incorrect Usage: `请点击电梯的一楼按钮。` (Qǐng diǎnjī diàntī de yī lóu ànniǔ.)
  • Why it's wrong: An elevator button is a physical object. You press it, you don't “click” it with a mouse.
  • Correct Usage: `请按电梯的一楼按钮。` (Qǐng àn diàntī de yī lóu ànniǔ.)
• `点击 (diǎnjī)` vs. `输入 (shūrù)`
  • `点击 (diǎnjī)` is for selecting or activating something that is already on the screen (a button, a link, an icon).
  • `输入 (shūrù)` means “to input” or “to type” and is used for entering text or numbers into a field.
  • Incorrect Usage: `请点击你的用户名。` (Qǐng diǎnjī nǐ de yònghùmíng.)
  • Why it's wrong: While you might first click the text box, the main action of entering your username is typing.
  • Correct Usage: `请输入你的用户名。` (Qǐng shūrù nǐ de yònghùmíng.)

• 链接 (liànjiē) - Link / Hyperlink. This is the object you most often 点击.
• 按钮 (ànniǔ) - Button. The graphical element on a screen that is designed to be 点击-ed.
• 下载 (xiàzài) - To download. A very common action that is initiated by a 点击.
• 鼠标 (shǔbiāo) - Mouse. The physical device used to perform a 点击.
• 双击 (shuāngjī) - To double-click. A more specific type of click action.
• 输入 (shūrù) - To input / type. A different digital action, often confused with 点击 by learners.
• 网页 (wǎngyè) - Webpage. The digital location where you find links and buttons to 点击.
• 屏幕 (píngmù) - Screen. The surface on which you 点击 (or tap).
• 点击率 (diǎnjīlǜ) - Click-Through Rate (CTR). A business metric that measures the success of links and ads.