发信息

Using it is super simple. You usually put the person you are texting in the middle or at the end. You can say 给他发信息 which means 'send a message to him.' It acts like a standard verb-object phrase. You can add a duration, like 发了一下午信息, if you've been texting all afternoon. Just don't forget the 发 is the action part!

Use it whenever digital text is involved. Use it when you are running late and need to tell a friend. Use it at work when you'd rather not call a colleague. It is perfect for those 'this could have been an email' moments. It is the universal term for 'I will ping you later.'

Don't use this for physical mail. If you are sending a paper letter, use 寄信 instead. Also, if you are sending a large file or a formal email, 发邮件 is more specific. Avoid using it for shouting across a room. That is just 说话 or yelling, not 'sending information'!

China is the land of WeChat. Because of this, 发信息 has become more common than actually calling someone. In the past, people worried about SMS fees per message. Now, with data, people 发信息 constantly. It is the heartbeat of social life in modern Chinese cities. Even grandmas are experts at it now.

You will often hear 发短信 which specifically means 'short message' (SMS). In the world of WeChat, people might just say 发微信. If someone is ignoring you, you might say they aren't 回信息 (returning messages). It is a flexible phrase that adapts to whatever app is trendy this week.