下载
Traditional: 下載
xià zǎi HSK 5

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

我下载了一个新游戏。
Wǒ xiàzǎi le yī gè xīn yóuxì.
I downloaded a new game.
请下载这个文件给我。
Qǐng xiàzǎi zhège wénjiàn gěi wǒ.
Please download this file for me.
下载电影需要时间。
Xiàzǎi diànyǐng xūyào shíjiān.
Downloading movies takes time.
我下载了音乐。
Wǒ xiàzǎile yīnyuè.
I downloaded music.
他下载了文件。
Tā xiàzǎile wénjiàn.
He downloaded the file.

💡 Memory Tip

Break down the characters: 下 (xià) means 'down' or 'below,' and 载 (zài) means 'to carry' or 'load.' Think of it as 'carrying something down' to your device, like bringing a file down from the internet to your computer.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is used in both formal and informal contexts, and is common in both spoken and written Chinese. It is frequently encountered in technology-related discussions, such as downloading apps, music, documents, or videos from websites, cloud services, or peer-to-peer networks.

📖 Grammar Points

下载 is a separable verb (离合词). It can be used as is (e.g., 下载文件) or split with other elements inserted, such as 下不了载 (cannot download) or 下过载 (have downloaded before). It often follows prepositions like 从 (cóng) to indicate the source, as in 从网站上下载.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In China, as digital access has grown, 下载 is a very common term due to widespread internet use for entertainment, work, and education. It's associated with both legal downloads (e.g., from official app stores) and informal sharing, though piracy concerns exist. The term reflects the integration of technology into daily life.

🔄 Similar Words

上传 (shàngchuán) means 'to upload,' which is the opposite action of transferring data from a local device to a remote server. While 下载 is about receiving data, 上传 is about sending it.

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