making a phone call

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As a newcomer to China a number of years ago, I was surprised by the number of cell phones I saw in the hands of those surrounding me. I had come from America and I remember at the time that none of my friends even had a cell phone. In China they were everywhere. And they were being used in ways that didn't seem to me to be as common in the States. I know that some people like to text message in America, but the sheer number and frequency of the texting being done by the people around me was baffling. And man, they were quick at it.

These days it might not be strange to come from the West and see so many cell phones. When I returned to America this last summer I noticed that almost every one of my friends had a cell phone. But, as the largest market for cell phones in the world, there is still something unique about Chinese cell phone use. Cell phones in China are not only a utilitarian means of keeping in contact with people, they are markers of your social status and discriminating taste. Nokia and Motorola are the brands of success. And whether you use them or not, your cell phone's features are important in deciding where on the pecking order your mobile device rests. MP3 capability, digital camera and video as well as internet browsing capabilities are a must for any connoisseur.

To get an idea about the demand for cool cell phones and the sense of social position they bring, it is illustrating to note that when Apple's iPhone came out in the United States it was only a short time before the Chinese market was teeming with hacked iPhones which are unsupported by Apple. A friend of mine came to me recently beaming showing the new iPhone he'd bought for his girlfriend. Of course the iPhone is fun to use and pretty, but a user of it is also seen as being avante-garde in the war for cell phone prestige.

And besides the phone itself, people in China frequently invest money decking their phones out to personalize them. Cell phone covers, chains, stickers and protectors are a huge industry. The range in style reflects the range in users: from the leather cases looped around the belts of so many businessman to the brightly-colored covers and chains that dangle from the phones of young girls on the subway.

Even I've joined in the game. I never owned a cell phone in the West, but shortly after moving to China I made my first purchase. Right now, I like to keep my taste refined: a simple clear rubber cover to protect my black Motorola is my simple and yet esthetically pleasing choice. Of course there's a camera and MP3 player, and it supposedly can surf the web. And the phone ranks high enough on the status chain that when at a dinner with business associates I don't have feel embarrassed when I pull it out. For me, that's good enough.

But I have to admit that I am an Apple products lover, and when the iPhone gets official support in Asia, they might just have a new customer in the form of one American living in Beijing who looks surprisingly like the person I see every morning when looking in the mirror.

Related Vocabulary手机套 shǒujītào：cell phone cover
这个手机套是随机送的。
zhègè shǒujītào shì suí jī sòngde。
This cell phone cover comes with your phone.

手机链 shǒujīliàn：cell phone loop (to wrap around wrist or neck)
你的手机链挺漂亮的。
Nǐde shǒujīliàn tǐng piàoliang de。
Your cell phone loop looks great.

手机美容 shǒujīměiróng：cell phone beautification
前面有一家手机美容店 。
Qiánmian yǒu yìjiā shǒujīměiróng diàn。
There's a store that sells things to make your cell phone prettier right ahead.

手机游戏 shǒujīyóuxì：cell phone games
我比较喜欢单机的手机游戏。
wǒ bǐjiào xǐhuan dānjīde shǒujīyóuxì。
I like single-player cell phone games.

电子书diànzǐshū：electronic book
时下很多人用手机看电子书。
shíxià hěnduō rén yòng shǒujī kàn diànzǐshū。
At present a lot of people use their cell phones to read electronic books

手机卡 shǒujīkǎ：cell phone card
你用的是什么手机卡？
nǐ yòngde shì shénme shǒujīkǎ？
What kind of cell phone card do you use?

手机挂坠 shǒujīguàzhuì：cell phone pendant (that hangs from a cell phone for decoration)
这是你自己做的手机挂坠吗？
zhè shì nǐ zìjǐ zuòde shǒujīguàzhuì ma？
Did you make this cell phone pendant yourself?

Related Links
Chinese phone rentals at Panda Phone
Cell phone choices for those coming to China
Chinese pre-paid SIM cards
China's move to standardize cell phone chargers