xiàngjī: 相机 - Camera

• Keywords: 相机, xiangji, camera in Chinese, how to say camera in Mandarin, Chinese for camera, digital camera in Chinese, photography in Chinese, 数码相机, 单反相机
• Summary: Learn how to say “camera” in Chinese with the word 相机 (xiàngjī). This guide breaks down the characters, explores the cultural significance of photography in modern China (from selfies to “foodstagramming”), and provides practical example sentences. Discover the difference between a photo camera (相机) and a video camera (摄像机) to avoid common mistakes and speak like a native.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xiàngjī
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: An instrument for capturing still photographs; a camera.
• In a Nutshell: 相机 (xiàngjī) is the standard, everyday word for “camera” in Mandarin Chinese. It covers everything from a professional DSLR to the camera on your smartphone. It's a literal and functional term, combining the concepts of “image” and “machine.”

• 相 (xiàng): This character's original meaning is related to looking at something, often a tree (木 mù) with an eye (目 mù). From this, it evolved to mean “appearance,” “likeness,” “portrait,” or “photograph.” In this context, it refers to the image or likeness being captured.
• 机 (jī): This character means “machine” or “device.” The radical on the left, 木 (mù), means “wood,” hinting that early machines were often constructed from wood. The character as a whole signifies a mechanical device.
• When combined, 相机 (xiàngjī) literally translates to an “image machine” or “likeness-capturing device,” a perfectly logical and descriptive name for a camera.

While 相机 (xiàngjī) is a modern technical term, its use is deeply embedded in the social fabric of modern China. Photography is not just a hobby; it's a crucial part of social interaction. A key cultural phenomenon is “letting the camera eat first” (让相机先吃 - ràng xiàngjī xiān chī). Before anyone can touch their food at a restaurant, it's common for everyone to take out their phones to get the perfect shot for social media platforms like WeChat Moments or Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book). This is a stark contrast to a more traditional Western dining etiquette where using your phone at the table might be seen as rude. Furthermore, the concept of “checking in” (打卡 - dǎkǎ) at tourist spots, trendy cafes, or art exhibitions is extremely popular. The 相机 is the essential tool for proving you were there and sharing the curated experience with your social circle. This reflects a culture where sharing experiences, often in a visually perfect way, is a primary form of social currency. Group photos are also far more common and expected than in many Western cultures, emphasizing the collective experience over the individual one.

相机 (xiàngjī) is used in a wide variety of modern contexts.

• General Conversation: You'll use it when talking about buying, using, or borrowing a camera. It's the go-to term for any device primarily used for still photography.
• Types of Cameras: While 相机 is a general term, more specific types are often used:
  • 数码相机 (shùmǎ xiàngjī): Digital camera
  • 单反相机 (dānfǎn xiàngjī): DSLR (Single-Lens Reflex) camera
  • 胶片相机 (jiāopiàn xiàngjī): Film camera
• Phone Cameras: In casual conversation, people often don't explicitly say “phone camera.” They'll simply refer to their 手机 (shǒujī - mobile phone). For example, “My phone's camera is great” would be “我的手机像素很高” (Wǒ de shǒujī xiàngsù hěn gāo - My phone's pixels are very high), implicitly referring to the camera function.
• Photography as a Hobby: When discussing photography as an art or hobby, the word 摄影 (shèyǐng) is used. A 相机 is the tool used for 摄影.

• Example 1:
  • 我想买一个新相机来学习摄影。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī ge xīn xiàngjī lái xuéxí shèyǐng.
  • English: I want to buy a new camera to learn photography.
  • Analysis: A straightforward sentence showing the desire to purchase a camera for a specific purpose (learning photography).
• Example 2:
  • 你能用我的相机帮我们拍张照吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng yòng wǒ de xiàngjī bāng wǒmen pāi zhāng zhào ma?
  • English: Can you use my camera to take a picture for us?
  • Analysis: A common and practical request. Note the use of the verb `拍 (pāi)` for “to take” a picture.
• Example 3:
  • 这款手机的相机功能特别强大。
  • Pinyin: Zhè kuǎn shǒujī de xiàngjī gōngnéng tèbié qiángdà.
  • English: This model of phone's camera function is especially powerful.
  • Analysis: This example explicitly uses 相机 to refer to the camera feature of a smartphone.
• Example 4:
  • 专业的摄影师通常会用单反相机。
  • Pinyin: Zhuānyè de shèyǐngshī tōngcháng huì yòng dānfǎn xiàngjī.
  • English: Professional photographers usually use DSLR cameras.
  • Analysis: This sentence introduces the more specific term `单反相机 (dānfǎn xiàngjī)`.
• Example 5:
  • 出门前，别忘了带相机和充电器。
  • Pinyin: Chūmén qián, bié wàng le dài xiàngjī hé chōngdiànqì.
  • English: Before you go out, don't forget to bring the camera and the charger.
  • Analysis: A simple reminder, very useful for daily life and travel.
• Example 6:
  • 菜来了，大家先别动，让相机先吃！
  • Pinyin: Cài lái le, dàjiā xiān bié dòng, ràng xiàngjī xiān chī!
  • English: The food is here! Nobody move, let the camera eat first!
  • Analysis: This is a classic, humorous phrase that perfectly captures modern Chinese dining culture.
• Example 7:
  • 我的旧相机坏了，现在只能用手机拍照。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de jiù xiàngjī huài le, xiànzài zhǐ néng yòng shǒujī pāizhào.
  • English: My old camera is broken, so now I can only use my phone to take pictures.
  • Analysis: This sentence contrasts a dedicated camera with a phone's camera.
• Example 8:
  • 他对老式胶片相机情有独钟。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì lǎoshì jiāopiàn xiàngjī qíng yǒu dú zhōng.
  • English: He has a special fondness for old-fashioned film cameras.
  • Analysis: Introduces `胶片相机 (jiāopiàn xiàngjī)` for “film camera” and uses a nice idiom `情有独钟 (qíng yǒu dú zhōng)`.
• Example 9:
  • 这台相机的自动对焦速度很快。
  • Pinyin: Zhè tái xiàngjī de zìdòng duìjiāo sùdù hěn kuài.
  • English: This camera's autofocus speed is very fast.
  • Analysis: A more technical sentence discussing a camera's features. `台 (tái)` is a common measure word for machines like computers and cameras.
• Example 10:
  • 为了安全，商场里安装了很多监控相机。
  • Pinyin: Wèi le ānquán, shāngchǎng lǐ ānzhuāng le hěn duō jiānkòng xiàngjī.
  • English: For security, the mall has installed many surveillance cameras.
  • Analysis: This shows how 相机 can be part of a compound word. Here, `监控相机 (jiānkòng xiàngjī)` means “surveillance camera,” though `摄像头 (shèxiàngtóu)` is more common for this.

• 相机 (xiàngjī) vs. 摄像机 (shèxiàngjī): This is the most critical distinction for learners.
  • 相机 (xiàngjī) is for taking still photos (照片 - zhàopiàn).
  • 摄像机 (shèxiàngjī) is for recording videos (视频 - shìpín). It's a video camera or camcorder.
  • Incorrect: 我用我的新相机录了一个视频。(Wǒ yòng wǒ de xīn xiàngjī lù le yī gè shìpín.) - Using a “still camera” to “record a video.”
  • Correct: 我用我的新摄像机录了一个视频。(Wǒ yòng wǒ de xīn shèxiàngjī lù le yī gè shìpín.)
  • Note: Modern digital cameras and phones can do both. In that case, you might say: “我的相机也可以摄像” (Wǒ de xiàngjī yě kěyǐ shèxiàng - My camera can also record video). But if the primary device is for video, use 摄像机.
• 相机 (xiàngjī) vs. 摄像头 (shèxiàngtóu):
  • 摄像头 (shèxiàngtóu) literally means “camera head.” It almost always refers to a webcam, a security camera, or the small lens on a laptop or phone. It emphasizes the lens component itself rather than the entire device. You wouldn't call a DSLR a 摄像头.

• 拍照 (pāizhào) - The verb “to take a photo.” This is the primary action you do with a 相机.
• 照片 (zhàopiàn) - The noun “photograph” or “picture.” This is the product created by a 相机.
• 摄影 (shèyǐng) - The art or act of “photography.” A broader, more formal term for the craft.
• 摄像机 (shèxiàngjī) - A video camera or camcorder. The most important related term to distinguish from 相机.
• 镜头 (jìngtóu) - Camera lens. A key component of a 相机.
• 自拍 (zìpāi) - To take a selfie. A very popular activity done with the front-facing camera.
• 摄影师 (shèyǐngshī) - Photographer. The person who uses a 相机 professionally or as a serious hobbyist.
• 数码相机 (shùmǎ xiàngjī) - Digital camera. A more specific type of 相机.
• 单反相机 (dānfǎn xiàngjī) - DSLR camera. A specific type of camera favored by professionals and enthusiasts.
• 美颜 (měiyán) - “Beauty filter.” A common feature in modern phone cameras, especially in Asia, used to enhance portraits.