信息 (xìn xī) means 'information' or 'message' — the data, news, or content that is communicated or exchanged. The character 信 (xìn) originally means 'letter' or 'trust', suggesting reliability and transmission, while 息 (xī) means 'breath', 'news', or 'tidings', evoking something that flows or circulates. Together, they form a compound noun emphasizing verifiable, shareable content — not just raw data, but meaningful, intelligible content intended for understanding.

This word is neutral in register and widely used in both spoken and written Chinese: in digital contexts (e.g., text messages, emails), official settings (e.g., government announcements), education, and daily conversation. It often appears with measure words like 条 (tiáo) — e.g., 一条信息 ('a piece of information') — and commonly pairs with verbs like 发送 (fāsòng, 'to send'), 获取 (huòqǔ, 'to obtain'), or 共享 (gòngxiǎng, 'to share'). Unlike the more colloquial 消息 (xiāoxi), 信息 carries a slightly more formal, comprehensive, or technical connotation.