wúrénjī: 无人机 - Drone, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

• Keywords: wurenji, 无人机, drone in Chinese, Chinese for drone, UAV in Chinese, learn Chinese, modern Chinese words, Chinese technology, DJI, 大疆, unmanned aerial vehicle
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 无人机 (wúrénjī), the modern Chinese word for “drone” or “Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)”. This comprehensive guide breaks down the term's literal meaning (“no-person machine”), explores its cultural significance in tech-savvy China—home to DJI, the world's leading drone manufacturer—and provides practical example sentences for discussing technology, photography, and business. A must-know term for understanding modern China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): wúrénjī
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: An unmanned aerial vehicle, commonly known as a drone.
• In a Nutshell: 无人机 (wúrénjī) is the standard and most common term for a drone in Mandarin Chinese. The word is incredibly logical and transparent. It literally combines “no person” (无人) with “machine/aircraft” (机) to describe a flying machine that operates without a person on board. It's a modern, neutral term used for everything from hobbyist camera drones to advanced agricultural and military UAVs.

• 无 (wú): This character means “no,” “without,” or “-less.” It signifies absence or negation.
• 人 (rén): This is one of the simplest and most fundamental characters, meaning “person” or “human.” It originates from a pictograph of a person standing.
• 机 (jī): This character means “machine” or “mechanism.” It's a key component in many modern technology words, such as 手机 (shǒujī, mobile phone) and 飞机 (fēijī, airplane).

When combined, 无人 (wúrén) means “unmanned” or “no person,” and 机 (jī) refers to the machine itself. Therefore, 无人机 (wúrénjī) translates directly and perfectly to “unmanned machine,” or more specifically in context, “unmanned aerial vehicle.”

The term 无人机 (wúrénjī) is deeply tied to China's identity as a global technology leader. Unlike in some Western countries where the word “drone” might first evoke military or surveillance connotations, in China, 无人机 is overwhelmingly associated with commercial innovation, consumer technology, and national pride. This is largely due to the dominance of the Shenzhen-based company 大疆 (Dàjiāng), known internationally as DJI. DJI controls over 70% of the global consumer drone market. For many Chinese people, 无人机 is synonymous with DJI's sleek, white quadcopters used for stunning aerial photography (航拍, hángpāi) and videography. Comparing it to a Western concept, think of how “Google” became a verb for searching online. In China, while not a verb, the brand 大疆 (Dàjiāng) is so intertwined with the concept of a consumer drone that the two are almost interchangeable in casual conversation. The term, therefore, carries a strong positive connotation of modernity, creativity, and China's technological prowess on the world stage.

无人机 (wúrénjī) is a common word used in a wide variety of modern contexts. Its connotation is generally neutral to positive, and it's used in both formal and informal settings.

• Consumer and Hobbyist Use: This is the most common context. People talk about buying, flying, or using drones for photography and fun. You'll hear it in electronics markets, parks, and conversations among friends.
• Commercial and Industrial Applications: The term is used to discuss the rapidly growing use of drones in various industries. This includes:
  • Logistics: 无人机送货 (wúrénjī sònghuò) - drone delivery, pioneered by companies like JD.com.
  • Agriculture: 农业无人机 (nóngyè wúrénjī) - agricultural drones used for crop spraying and monitoring.
  • Media: Used by news outlets and film crews for aerial shots.
• Government and Military Use: In more formal or news-related contexts, 无人机 can refer to surveillance or military drones. The specific type is usually clarified, e.g., 军用无人机 (jūnyòng wúrénjī) - military drone.

• Example 1:
  • 我哥哥买了一台新的大疆无人机，用来航拍。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ gēge mǎi le yí tái xīn de Dàjiāng wúrénjī, yònglái hángpāi.
  • English: My older brother bought a new DJI drone for aerial photography.
  • Analysis: This is a very typical, everyday sentence. It connects the term 无人机 with the famous brand 大疆 (Dàjiāng) and its most popular use, 航拍 (hángpāi).
• Example 2:
  • 这家公司正在测试用无人机送货，希望能提高效率。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī zhèngzài cèshì yòng wúrénjī sònghuò, xīwàng néng tígāo xiàolǜ.
  • English: This company is testing drone delivery, hoping to increase efficiency.
  • Analysis: This example highlights a key commercial application in modern China. 送货 (sònghuò) means “to deliver goods.”
• Example 3:
  • 在这个公园里，操作无人机需要得到许可。
  • Pinyin: Zài zhège gōngyuán lǐ, cāozuò wúrénjī xūyào dédào xǔkě.
  • English: You need to get a permit to operate a drone in this park.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows the practical, regulatory side of using drones. 操作 (cāozuò) is a formal word for “to operate” a machine.
• Example 4:
  • 无人机表演点亮了城市的夜空。
  • Pinyin: Wúrénjī biǎoyǎn diǎnliàng le chéngshì de yèkōng.
  • English: The drone performance lit up the city's night sky.
  • Analysis: This refers to the increasingly popular drone light shows, a common feature at major events and festivals in China.
• Example 5:
  • 农业无人机可以帮助农民喷洒农药，非常方便。
  • Pinyin: Nóngyè wúrénjī kěyǐ bāngzhù nóngmín pēnsǎ nóngyào, fēicháng fāngbiàn.
  • English: Agricultural drones can help farmers spray pesticides; it's very convenient.
  • Analysis: This points to the practical use of drones in agriculture, an important sector in China.
• Example 6:
  • 他的梦想是成为一名专业的无人机飞手。
  • Pinyin: Tā de mèngxiǎng shì chéngwéi yì míng zhuānyè de wúrénjī fēishǒu.
  • English: His dream is to become a professional drone pilot.
  • Analysis: 飞手 (fēishǒu), literally “fly hand,” is the cool, modern term for a drone pilot or operator.
• Example 7:
  • 警察使用带热像仪的无人机来搜索失踪的登山者。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngchá shǐyòng dài rèxiàngyí de wúrénjī lái sōusuǒ shīzōng de dēngshānzhě.
  • English: The police used a drone with a thermal camera to search for the missing hiker.
  • Analysis: This shows a more serious, official application for drones in emergency services.
• Example 8:
  • 这款无人机的电池续航时间是三十分钟。
  • Pinyin: Zhè kuǎn wúrénjī de diànchí xùháng shíjiān shì sānshí fēnzhōng.
  • English: This model's drone battery life is 30 minutes.
  • Analysis: A practical sentence you might use when shopping for a drone. 续航 (xùháng) is a key term for battery life/endurance.
• Example 9:
  • 军事新闻报道了新型侦察无人机的测试。
  • Pinyin: Jūnshì xīnwén bàodào le xīnxíng zhēnchá wúrénjī de cèshì.
  • English: The military news reported on the testing of a new type of reconnaissance drone.
  • Analysis: This example demonstrates the military context. 侦察 (zhēnchá) means “reconnaissance.”
• Example 10:
  • 小心！你的无人机快要撞到树了！
  • Pinyin: Xiǎoxīn! Nǐ de wúrénjī kuàiyào zhuàngdào shù le!
  • English: Be careful! Your drone is about to hit a tree!
  • Analysis: A simple, urgent, and very practical sentence for anyone flying a drone with a friend.

• Don't confuse with 飞机 (fēijī): A common mistake for beginners is to mix up 无人机 (wúrénjī) with 飞机 (fēijī). Remember, 飞机 is an airplane—a large aircraft that carries people. The key differentiator is the prefix 无人 (wúrén), meaning “unmanned.” If there are no people on board, it's a 无人机.
• “Drone” vs. 无人机 Connotation: While they translate directly, the English word “drone” can carry a heavier military or surveillance undertone for some speakers. In everyday Chinese conversation, 无人机 is much more likely to evoke images of a DJI Phantom used for taking beautiful videos than a military Predator. The Chinese term feels more neutral and tech-oriented in its common usage.
• Using the Brand Name as a Generic Term: Just as people in the West might say “pass me a Kleenex” instead of “tissue,” it's very common in China to hear people refer to a consumer drone simply as a 大疆 (Dàjiāng), the brand name for DJI. Using this in casual conversation will make you sound very natural. For example: “你看我新买的大疆” (Look at the new DJI I bought).

• 飞机 (fēijī) - Airplane. The “manned” equivalent of a 无人机.
• 航拍 (hángpāi) - Aerial photography/videography. One of the most popular reasons people buy a 无人机.
• 遥控 (yáokòng) - Remote control. This is the technology used to pilot a 无人机.
• 大疆 (Dàjiāng) - DJI. The world's largest consumer drone manufacturer, based in China. The brand is almost synonymous with the product itself.
• 机器人 (jīqìrén) - Robot. A broader category of unmanned machines to which 无人机 belongs.
• 无人驾驶 (wúrén jiàshǐ) - Unmanned driving (i.e., self-driving). This term applies the same 无人 (wúrén) concept to cars and other vehicles.
• 送货 (sònghuò) - To deliver goods. A major commercial application for 无人机 in China's logistics industry.
• 飞手 (fēishǒu) - Drone pilot. A modern slang/job title, literally “flying hand.”