信号

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信号 [2025/08/12 23:38] – created xiaoer信号 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
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-====== xìnhào: 信号 - Signal, Sign, Cue ====== +
-===== Quick Summary ===== +
-  * **Keywords:** xinhao, 信号, Chinese signal, what does xinhao mean, Chinese for signal, traffic signal, cell phone signal, send a signal in Chinese, social cues in China, HSK 4 vocabulary +
-  * **Summary:** Learn the meaning and usage of **信号 (xìnhào)**, the essential Chinese word for "signal." This comprehensive guide covers everything from technical uses like cell phone or traffic **signals** to understanding subtle social **cues** in modern China. Discover how **xìnhào** is used in daily conversation and avoid common mistakes, making your Chinese communication clearer and more natural. +
-===== Core Meaning ===== +
-  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** xìn hào +
-  * **Part of Speech:** Noun +
-  * **HSK Level:** 4 +
-  * **Concise Definition:** A sign, gesture, or transmitted wave (like radio or light) that conveys information or an instruction. +
-  * **In a Nutshell:** `信号` is the universal Chinese word for any kind of "signal." It's a highly practical term that you'll encounter everywhere, from the technical world of Wi-Fi and cell phones (`手机信号` - cell signal) to the nuanced world of human interaction (`给我一个信号` - give me a signal/cue). Think of it as the carrier of a message, whether that message is coming from a satellite or a simple nod from a friend. +
-===== Character Breakdown ===== +
-  * **信 (xìn):** This character's core meaning is related to "information," "message," or a "letter." It also carries the important meaning of "trust" or "faith." In `信号`, it contributes the idea of **information** being conveyed. +
-  * **号 (hào):** This character means "sign," "mark," "symbol," or "number." It suggests a visible or perceptible marker. +
-When combined, **信号 (xìnhào)** literally translates to an "information sign" or "message mark." This beautifully captures its essence: a tangible sign that carries intangible information. +
-===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== +
-While `信号` is often a direct, technical term, its use in social contexts reveals a key aspect of Chinese communication. Chinese culture can often favor indirectness and high-context communication, where meaning is implied rather than stated outright. In this environment, being able to "read the signals" (`读懂信号`) is a crucial social skill. +
-This differs slightly from the Western concept of "reading the room." While similar, using the word `信号` to describe a social cue—like a friend looking at their watch to signal it's time to leave—is very common and explicit in Chinese. It's a verbal acknowledgment of the non-verbal. A person might say, "他给了我一个离开的信号" (He gave me a signal to leave), directly labeling the subtle cue. This highlights a cultural emphasis on observing and correctly interpreting non-verbal information in social harmony. A failure to pick up on a `信号` can lead to awkwardness or a loss of "face" (`面子`). +
-===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== +
-`信号` is used constantly in two main domains: the technical and the social. +
-==== Technical Signals ==== +
-This is the most common usage. The structure is typically `[Device/System] + 信号`. +
-  *   **手机信号 (shǒujī xìnhào):** Cell phone signal/reception. +
-  *   **WiFi信号 (WiFi xìnhào):** Wi-Fi signal. +
-  *   **交通信号 (jiāotōng xìnhào):** Traffic signal (often refers to the whole system, while `红绿灯` refers to the traffic light itself). +
-  *   **电视信号 (diànshì xìnhào):** TV signal. +
-==== Social and Metaphorical Signals ==== +
-This usage refers to cues, hints, and indicators in human interaction, economics, or politics. +
-  *   **发出信号 (fāchū xìnhào):** To send out a signal. +
-  *   **收到信号 (shōudào xìnhào):** To receive a signal. +
-  *   **危险信号 (wēixiǎn xìnhào):** A danger signal, a red flag. +
-  *   **错误的信号 (cuòwù de xìnhào):** The wrong signal, a misleading message. +
-  *   **积极的信号 (jījí de xìnhào):** A positive signal/sign. +
-===== Example Sentences ===== +
-  * **Example 1:** +
-  * 我的手机在这里没有**信号**。 +
-  * Pinyin: Wǒ de shǒujī zài zhèlǐ méiyǒu **xìnhào**. +
-  * English: My cell phone has no signal here. +
-  * Analysis: This is one of the most common uses of the word. Note the use of `没有 (méiyǒu)` to say "to have no signal." +
-  * **Example 2:** +
-  * 你必须等绿色的**信号**才能过马路。 +
-  * Pinyin: Nǐ bìxū děng lǜsè de **xìnhào** cái néng guò mǎlù. +
-  * English: You must wait for the green signal to cross the road. +
-  * Analysis: Here, `信号` refers to the traffic light's instruction. `绿色的信号` literally means "the green-colored signal." +
-  * **Example 3:** +
-  * 咖啡馆的WiFi**信号**很强。 +
-  * Pinyin: Kāfēiguǎn de WiFi **xìnhào** hěn qiáng. +
-  * English: The cafe's Wi-Fi signal is very strong. +
-  * Analysis: `强 (qiáng)` means strong, and its opposite, `弱 (ruò)`, means weak. These are the standard adjectives for signal strength. +
-  * **Example 4:** +
-  * 他对我点了点头，这是一个开始的**信号**。 +
-  * Pinyin: Tā duì wǒ diǎn le diǎn tóu, zhè shì yī個 kāishǐ de **xìnhào**. +
-  * English: He nodded at me; this was the signal to begin. +
-  * Analysis: This shows `信号` being used for a clear, non-verbal cue in a social context. +
-  * **Example 5:** +
-  * 我想我可能误解了她的**信号**。 +
-  * Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng wǒ kěnéng wùjiěle tā de **xìnhào**. +
-  * English: I think I might have misunderstood her signals. +
-  * Analysis: `误解 (wùjiě)` means to misunderstand. This is a common phrase when discussing social cues and dating. +
-  * **Example 6:** +
-  * 公司的利润下降是一个危险**信号**。 +
-  * Pinyin: Gōngsī de lìrùn xiàjiàng shì yī ge wēixiǎn **xìnhào**. +
-  * English: The company's falling profits are a danger signal. +
-  * Analysis: This is a great example of metaphorical use in a business or economic context. `危险信号` is a set phrase for "red flag" or "danger sign." +
-  * **Example 7:** +
-  * 你那么说会给老板发出一个错误的**信号**。 +
-  * Pinyin: Nǐ nàme shuō huì gěi lǎobǎn fāchū yī ge cuòwù de **xìnhào**. +
-  * English: Saying that will send the wrong signal to the boss. +
-  * Analysis: The pattern `发出一个错误的信号 (fāchū yī ge cuòwù de xìnhào)` is very useful for explaining that an action might give a bad impression. +
-  * **Example 8:** +
-  * 裁判员发出了比赛结束的**信号**。 +
-  * Pinyin: Cáipànyuán fāchūle bǐsài jiéshù de **xìnhào**. +
-  * English: The referee gave the signal for the end of the match. +
-  * Analysis: This shows the common collocation `发出 (fāchū)` meaning "to emit" or "to send out" a signal. +
-  * **Example 9:** +
-  * 在这个山谷里，收音机**信号**断断续续的。 +
-  * Pinyin: Zài zhège shāngǔ lǐ, shōuyīnjī **xìnhào** duànduànxùxù de. +
-  * English: In this valley, the radio signal is intermittent. +
-  * Analysis: The adverb `断断续续 (duànduànxùxù)` vividly describes a signal that is "on-again, off-again." +
-  * **Example 10:** +
-  * 看到他脸上的微笑，我收到了一个积极的**信号**。 +
-  * Pinyin: Kàn dào tā liǎn shàng de wéixiào, wǒ shōudàole yī ge jījí de **xìnhào**. +
-  * English: Seeing the smile on his face, I received a positive signal. +
-  * Analysis: This sentence uses the verb `收到 (shōudào)`, "to receive," which is the natural counterpart to `发出 (fāchū)`. +
-===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== +
-  * **`信号 (xìnhào)` vs. `标志 (biāozhì)`:** This is the most common point of confusion for learners. +
-  * `信号` is dynamic and transmits information. It can change (a traffic light), appear/disappear (a Wi-Fi signal), or be a temporary action (a gesture). +
-  * `标志 (biāozhì)` is a static sign, symbol, or logo. It doesn't "transmit" in the same way. A stop sign is a `标志`, not a `信号`. The Nike "swoosh" is a `标志`. +
-  * **Example of mistake:** +
-    * `*错误的：` 我在路上看到了一个红色的停止**信号**。 +
-    * `*正确的：` 我在路上看到了一个红色的停止**标志**。 (I saw a red stop sign on the road.) +
-  * **Not a Verb:** In English, "signal" can be a verb ("He signaled me to come over"). In Chinese, `信号` is almost exclusively a noun. To express the action, you must use a verb like `发出 (fāchū)` or `给 (gěi)`: `他给我一个过来的信号` (He gave me a signal to come over). +
-===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== +
-  * [[标志]] (biāozhì) - A static sign, mark, or logo. Differentiated from the dynamic nature of `信号`. +
-  * [[暗号]] (ànhào) - A secret signal, password, or code word, often used between spies or friends. A very specific type of `信号`. +
-  * [[手势]] (shǒushì) - A hand gesture. A `手势` is a common way to give a `信号`. +
-  * [[信息]] (xìnxī) - Information. This is the content that a `信号` carries. +
-  * [[提示]] (tíshì) - A hint or a prompt. A `提示` is a gentle, often verbal, `信号` intended to help someone. +
-  * [[预兆]] (yùzhào) - An omen or a portent. A `预兆` is a type of natural or supernatural `信号` that foretells the future. +
-  * [[迹象]] (jìxiàng) - A sign or indication of a developing situation or trend (e.g., "signs of economic recovery"). More abstract than `信号`. +
-  * [[传达]] (chuándá) - To transmit, pass on, convey. This is the verb for what a `信号` does. +
-  * [[指令]] (zhǐlìng) - An order or an instruction. This is often the message contained within a formal `信号`.+