yúnjìsuàn: 云计算 - Cloud Computing

• Keywords: yunjisuan, 云计算, cloud computing in Chinese, Chinese tech terms, what is cloud computing in Chinese, Alibaba Cloud, Tencent Cloud, AWS China, learning Chinese for business.
• Summary: Discover the essential Chinese term 云计算 (yúnjìsuàn), the direct translation for “Cloud Computing”. This comprehensive guide breaks down the characters, explains its immense significance in China's technology sector, and provides over 10 practical example sentences. Learn how companies like Alibaba and Tencent use 云计算 to power modern Chinese digital life, from e-commerce and social media to artificial intelligence.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yún jì suàn
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: A model for delivering computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, and software—over the Internet (“the cloud”).
• In a Nutshell: This is a direct, literal translation that works perfectly. `云 (yún)` means “cloud,” and `计算 (jìsuàn)` means “to compute” or “to calculate.” Together, they form “cloud computing,” referring to the same global concept of on-demand computing services. Instead of owning your own computing infrastructure, you access it from a provider like Alibaba Cloud or Amazon Web Services.

• 云 (yún): This character originally depicted a cloud in the sky. In a technological context, it serves as a powerful metaphor for the Internet—a vast, distributed, and seemingly intangible network of resources.
• 计 (jì): This character means “to calculate,” “to plan,” or “to meter.” It is a core component of words related to computation and planning.
• 算 (suàn): This character also means “to calculate,” “to reckon,” or “to count.” It often pairs with `计` to form the modern word `计算 (jìsuàn)`, which means “computation” or “to compute.”

Putting them together, `云 (cloud) + 计算 (computing)` creates a clear and intuitive term for the technology that powers much of the modern internet.

While the technology of “cloud computing” is global, its implementation and significance in China have unique characteristics. The concept is a cornerstone of China's national strategy to become a global tech leader. Unlike in the West where Amazon (AWS), Google, and Microsoft dominate, the Chinese cloud market is led by domestic giants: Alibaba Cloud (阿里云), Tencent Cloud (腾讯云), and Baidu Cloud (百度云). These companies aren't just competitors; they are fundamental pillars of China's digital ecosystem. For an American learner, a good comparison is the role of AWS. Just as AWS quietly powers everything from Netflix to corporate databases, Alibaba Cloud underpins the massive Taobao and Tmall e-commerce platforms, and Tencent Cloud supports the colossal ecosystem of WeChat. The integration of cloud services into single “super-apps” that handle payment, social media, and official services is far more extensive in China, making 云计算 a critical, if invisible, part of daily life for over a billion people. It's not just a business tool; it's the foundation of modern Chinese digital society.

云计算 is a formal, technical term. You won't hear it used in casual chats about the weather, but it's ubiquitous in specific contexts.

• Business and Technology: This is its primary domain. It appears constantly in tech news, corporate reports, investment analyses, and discussions about IT infrastructure and digital strategy.
• Job Market: Job titles like “Cloud Engineer” (云工程师 - yún gōngchéngshī) or “Cloud Architect” (云架构师 - yún jiàgòushī) are very common in the tech industry.
• Government and Policy: The term is frequently used in government publications outlining national technology goals, data security regulations, and plans for building “smart cities.”

It is almost always used with a neutral or positive connotation, associated with modernity, efficiency, and technological progress.

• Example 1:
  • 我们公司决定把所有数据都迁移到云计算平台。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī juédìng bǎ suǒyǒu shùjù dōu qiānyí dào yúnjìsuàn píngtái.
  • English: Our company has decided to migrate all data to a cloud computing platform.
  • Analysis: A very common business scenario. `迁移到 (qiānyí dào)` means “to migrate to.”
• Example 2:
  • 云计算是大数据和人工智能发展的基础。
  • Pinyin: Yúnjìsuàn shì dà shùjù hé réngōng zhìnéng fāzhǎn de jīchǔ.
  • English: Cloud computing is the foundation for the development of big data and artificial intelligence.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the strategic importance of cloud technology as an enabler for other tech fields.
• Example 3:
  • 学习云计算技术对找工作很有帮助。
  • Pinyin: Xuéxí yúnjìsuàn jìshù duì zhǎo gōngzuò hěn yǒu bāngzhù.
  • English: Studying cloud computing technology is very helpful for finding a job.
  • Analysis: A practical sentence offering advice, showing the term's relevance in the job market.
• Example 4:
  • 阿里云和腾讯云是中国最大的两个云计算服务提供商。
  • Pinyin: Ālǐ yún hé Téngxùn yún shì Zhōngguó zuìdà de liǎng ge yúnjìsuàn fúwù tígōngshāng.
  • English: Alibaba Cloud and Tencent Cloud are the two largest cloud computing service providers in China.
  • Analysis: Names the key players in the Chinese market. `服务提供商 (fúwù tígōngshāng)` is “service provider.”
• Example 5:
  • 使用云计算可以大大降低企业的IT成本。
  • Pinyin: Shǐyòng yúnjìsuàn kěyǐ dàdà jiàngdī qǐyè de IT chéngběn.
  • English: Using cloud computing can significantly reduce a company's IT costs.
  • Analysis: This points out a key business benefit of the cloud. `大大降低 (dàdà jiàngdī)` means “greatly reduce.”
• Example 6:
  • 很多初创公司从第一天起就依赖云计算。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō chuàngyè gōngsī cóng dì-yī tiān qǐ jiù yīlài yúnjìsuàn.
  • English: Many startups rely on cloud computing from day one.
  • Analysis: Explains the importance of the cloud for new businesses. `初创公司 (chuàngyè gōngsī)` is “startup company.”
• Example 7:
  • 数据安全是云计算面临的最大挑战之一。
  • Pinyin: Shùjù ānquán shì yúnjìsuàn miànlín de zuìdà tiǎozhàn zhīyī.
  • English: Data security is one of the biggest challenges facing cloud computing.
  • Analysis: A sentence you might read in a tech analysis article, discussing the downsides or challenges.
• Example 8:
  • 这款手机App的所有后端服务都运行在云计算上。
  • Pinyin: Zhè kuǎn shǒujī App de suǒyǒu hòuduān fúwù dōu yùnxíng zài yúnjìsuàn shàng.
  • English: All the backend services for this mobile app run on cloud computing.
  • Analysis: A specific, technical use case. `后端服务 (hòuduān fúwù)` means “backend services.”
• Example 9:
  • 简单来说，云计算就是通过互联网使用别人的电脑。
  • Pinyin: Jiǎndān láishuō, yúnjìsuàn jiùshì tōngguò hùliánwǎng shǐyòng biérén de diànnǎo.
  • English: Simply put, cloud computing is just using other people's computers via the internet.
  • Analysis: A great way to explain the concept to a non-technical person. `简单来说 (jiǎndān láishuō)` means “to put it simply.”
• Example 10:
  • 全球云计算市场正在快速增长。
  • Pinyin: Quánqiú yúnjìsuàn shìchǎng zhèngzài kuàisù zēngzhǎng.
  • English: The global cloud computing market is growing rapidly.
  • Analysis: A typical headline you might find in a financial or tech news report.

• `云计算` (yúnjìsuàn) vs. `云端` (yúnduān): This is a key distinction.
  • `云计算` refers to the technology, industry, or concept of cloud computing. (e.g., “Cloud computing is the future.”)
  • `云端` means “on the cloud” or “in the cloud” and refers to the location. It's used like an adverb or location noun.
  • Correct: 把你的照片上传到云端。(Bǎ nǐ de zhàopiàn shàngchuán dào yúnduān.) - “Upload your photos to the cloud.”
  • Incorrect: 把你的照片上传到云计算。(Bǎ nǐ de zhàopiàn shàngchuán dào yúnjìsuàn.) - This sounds like “Upload your photos to cloud computing technology,” which is awkward and wrong.
• Literal Cloud Confusion: For absolute beginners, remember that `云` here is a metaphor for the internet. It has nothing to do with weather clouds (also called `云`). Context makes this clear 100% of the time.

• 大数据 (dà shùjù): Big Data. Cloud computing provides the massive processing power needed to analyze big data.
• 人工智能 (réngōng zhìnéng): Artificial Intelligence (AI). Modern AI models are trained using the vast resources of cloud platforms.
• 服务器 (fúwùqì): Server. The physical machines that make up the “cloud.”
• 数据中心 (shùjù zhōngxīn): Data Center. The large, secure buildings that house thousands of servers.
• 阿里云 (Ālǐ yún): Alibaba Cloud. A leading cloud service provider in China and globally, owned by Alibaba Group.
• 腾讯云 (Téngxùn yún): Tencent Cloud. A major competitor to Alibaba Cloud, owned by Tencent (the company behind WeChat).
• 云存储 (yún cúnchǔ): Cloud Storage. A specific service within cloud computing, like iCloud or Baidu Wangpan (百度网盘).
• 物联网 (wù lián wǎng): Internet of Things (IoT). The network of physical devices that collect and exchange data, which is often stored and processed in the cloud.
• 数字化转型 (shùzìhuà zhuǎnxíng): Digital Transformation. The process of businesses adopting digital technology, for which cloud computing is a key enabler.
• 软件即服务 (ruǎnjiàn jí fúwù): Software as a Service (SaaS). A cloud-based software delivery model, like Microsoft 365 or Salesforce.