短信 (duǎnxìn)

短信 means text message or SMS. 短 means short and 信 means message or letter. Together they describe the brief electronic messages sent between mobile phones.

Meanings

[noun] Text message; SMS; short message.

Example Sentences

我给他发了一条短信。 Wǒ gěi tā fā le yī tiáo duǎnxìn. I sent him a text message.

他还没有回我的短信。 Tā hái méiyǒu huí wǒ de duǎnxìn. He hasn't replied to my text message yet.

你看到我发的短信了吗？ Nǐ kàndào wǒ fā de duǎnxìn le ma? Did you see the text message I sent?

不要边开车边看短信。 Bú yào biān kāichē biān kàn duǎnxìn. Don't read text messages while driving.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
发短信	to send a text message
收短信	to receive a text message
回短信	to reply to a text message
一条短信	one text message (measure word 条)
看短信	to read a text message

Memory Hook

短 (short) plus 信 (letter/message). A 短信 is literally a short letter. Before smartphone apps existed, people sent brief 短信 messages because they were charged per character.