‘密码’ (mìmǎ) literally combines ‘密’ (mì), meaning ‘secret’ or ‘confidential’, and ‘码’ (mǎ), meaning ‘code’ or ‘cipher’. Together, they form the standard term for ‘password’—a secret string of characters used to verify identity or grant access to digital systems, accounts, or devices. It is a core vocabulary item in modern Chinese, especially with widespread internet and mobile app usage.

This word appears frequently in daily life: setting up online accounts, unlocking smartphones, logging into banking apps, or securing Wi-Fi networks. Unlike English, Chinese does not borrow ‘password’ directly; 密码 is always used—even in tech contexts. It functions exclusively as a noun and does not change form for number or tense. While sometimes shortened informally to ‘密’ in spoken language (e.g., ‘你的密是？’), this is colloquial and best avoided in formal or written communication.