mùlù: 目录 - Table of Contents, Directory, Catalog

• Keywords: mulu, 目录, Chinese table of contents, Chinese directory, Chinese catalog, what is mulu, how to say directory in Chinese, how to say table of contents in Chinese, 目, 录, HSK 4 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 目录 (mùlù), which means 'table of contents,' 'directory,' or 'catalog.' This comprehensive guide breaks down the characters, explains its use in books, websites, and computer folders, and provides numerous practical example sentences. Understand how 目录 (mùlù) helps organize information in both physical and digital contexts in China, making it a crucial vocabulary word for students, professionals, and anyone navigating Chinese-language materials.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): mù lù
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A list of contents or items, typically organized to show their location or order, such as a table of contents or a directory.
• In a Nutshell: 目录 (mùlù) is the go-to word for any organized list that helps you find things. Think of the list of chapters at the beginning of a book, the list of files in a computer folder, or a catalog of products. It's all about providing a structured overview or a roadmap to a larger collection of information. It is a word of pure function and organization.

• 目 (mù): This character is a pictogram of an eye. Over time, its meaning expanded to include “item,” “category,” or “entry in a list”—as if you are visually scanning down a list of items.
• 录 (lù): This character relates to the act of recording or making a list. You'll see it in words like 记录 (jìlù - to record) and 录音 (lùyīn - to record sound).
• Together, 目 (mù) + 录 (lù) literally translates to “a recorded list of items.” This combination perfectly captures the essence of a table of contents, a file directory, or a product catalog—a system for organizing and locating recorded information.

While 目录 (mùlù) isn't a deeply philosophical term, its widespread use highlights a cultural appreciation for structure, order, and efficient access to information. In a culture that has historically valued scholarship and detailed record-keeping, a clear 目录 (mùlù) is the mark of a well-thought-out document or system. A useful comparison for learners is to see how 目录 (mùlù) functions as an umbrella term. In English, we have distinct words for different contexts:

• “Table of Contents” (for a book or report)
• “Directory” (for a computer's file system or a building's list of tenants)
• “Catalog” (for a list of products or library books)

In Chinese, 目录 (mùlù) capably covers all of these situations. This linguistic efficiency shows a focus on the shared function of these lists—they all serve as a guide to a larger body of content. Understanding this versatility is key to using the word naturally. It's a tool for systematic learning and information retrieval, values that are important in modern China's fast-paced, information-driven environment.

目录 (mùlù) is a standard, neutral term used in a wide range of formal and informal contexts.

• Books and Documents: This is its most classic use. When you open a Chinese textbook, report, or novel, the list of chapters at the beginning is the 目录.
• Computing: This is an extremely common and essential term in IT. It refers to a folder or directory on a computer. While the colloquial term 文件夹 (wénjiànjiā) is also used, 目录 (mùlù) is the standard technical term. For example, “根目录 (gēn mùlù)” means “root directory.”
• Websites: A website's navigation menu or sitemap can be referred to as a 目录. It provides a structured list of the site's pages.
• Commerce: A product 目录 is a product catalog, listing items for sale with descriptions and prices.

• Example 1:
  • 请翻到目录，看看第三章在哪里。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng fān dào mùlù, kànkan dì sān zhāng zài nǎlǐ.
  • English: Please turn to the table of contents and see where chapter three is.
  • Analysis: A classic and straightforward example of using 目录 in the context of a book.
• Example 2:
  • 我把文件保存在了桌面的一个新目录里。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bǎ wénjiàn bǎocún zài le zhuōmiàn de yí ge xīn mùlù lǐ.
  • English: I saved the file in a new directory on the desktop.
  • Analysis: This shows the common use of 目录 to mean a computer folder or directory.
• Example 3:
  • 这本书没有目录，找东西太难了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn shū méiyǒu mùlù, zhǎo dōngxi tài nán le.
  • English: This book doesn't have a table of contents, it's so hard to find things.
  • Analysis: Expresses frustration and highlights the core function of a 目录—to make information accessible.
• Example 4:
  • 写完论文后，别忘了自动生成目录。
  • Pinyin: Xiě wán lùnwén hòu, bié wàng le zìdòng shēngchéng mùlù.
  • English: After you finish writing your thesis, don't forget to automatically generate the table of contents.
  • Analysis: A very practical sentence for any student or professional using modern word processors.
• Example 5:
  • 这是我们公司最新的产品目录，请您过目。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒmen gōngsī zuìxīn de chǎnpǐn mùlù, qǐng nín guòmù.
  • English: This is our company's newest product catalog, please take a look.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the business/commerce use of 目录 for “catalog.”
• Example 6:
  • 所有的照片都在“假期”这个目录下面。
  • Pinyin: Suǒyǒu de zhàopiàn dōu zài “jiàqī” zhè ge mùlù xiàmiàn.
  • English: All the photos are under the “Vacation” directory.
  • Analysis: Here, 目录 is used to specify the name of a computer directory.
• Example 7:
  • 你需要有管理员权限才能修改根目录下的文件。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào yǒu guǎnlǐyuán quánxiàn cái néng xiūgǎi gēn mùlù xià de wénjiàn.
  • English: You need administrator privileges to modify files in the root directory.
  • Analysis: A technical but common sentence in IT, using the specific term 根目录 (gēn mùlù).
• Example 8:
  • 图书馆的电子目录可以帮你快速查到书的位置。
  • Pinyin: Túshūguǎn de diànzǐ mùlù kěyǐ bāng nǐ kuàisù chá dào shū de wèizhì.
  • English: The library's electronic catalog can help you quickly find a book's location.
  • Analysis: Shows the use of 目录 for a searchable database or catalog system.
• Example 9:
  • 网站的目录结构不清晰，用户体验很差。
  • Pinyin: Wǎngzhàn de mùlù jiégòu bù qīngxī, yònghù tǐyàn hěn chà.
  • English: The website's directory structure (sitemap) is not clear, and the user experience is poor.
  • Analysis: This sentence applies the concept of 目录 to web design and user experience (UX).
• Example 10:
  • 他给我列了一个很长的推荐书目录。
  • Pinyin: Tā gěi wǒ liè le yí ge hěn cháng de tuījiàn shū mùlù.
  • English: He gave me a long list of recommended books.
  • Analysis: In this context, 目录 functions more like “list” or “catalog,” but it implies a well-organized, structured list, not just a random one.

A common point of confusion for learners is distinguishing 目录 (mùlù) from other “list” words.

• 目录 (mùlù) vs. 菜单 (càidān): This is the most important distinction.
  • 目录 (mùlù): For contents of books, files on a computer, products in a catalog. It's about information location.
  • 菜单 (càidān): For food at a restaurant or a list of selectable options in a software menu (e.g., the “File” menu).
  • Incorrect Usage: `服务员，请给我一个目录。` (Waiter, please give me a directory.) This would sound very strange.
  • Correct Usage: `服务员，请给我一个菜单。` (Waiter, please give me a menu.)
• 目录 (mùlù) vs. 列表 (lièbiǎo):
  • 目录 (mùlù): An organized, often hierarchical list that serves as a guide to a larger collection of content (e.g., chapters in a book).
  • 列表 (lièbiǎo): A more general, all-purpose word for “list.” A shopping list is a `购物列表 (gòuwù lièbiǎo)`, and a to-do list is a `待办事项列表 (dàibàn shìxiàng lièbiǎo)`. You would not call these a 目录.
  • Rule of Thumb: If the list's primary purpose is to help you navigate a larger body of information, it's a 目录. If it's just a simple enumeration of items, it's a 列表.

• 文件夹 (wénjiànjiā): File folder. The common, everyday word for a computer directory. 目录 is the more technical term, but they are often used interchangeably in a computing context.
• 菜单 (càidān): Menu. Crucial to distinguish from 目录. Refers to food or software options.
• 索引 (suǒyǐn): Index. A list of specific terms (often alphabetical) at the back of a book, pointing to page numbers. A 目录 is a list of chapters/sections at the front.
• 列表 (lièbiǎo): List. The general, broad category word. A 目录 is a specific, structured type of 列表.
• 内容 (nèiróng): Content. The 目录 is the guide to the 内容.
• 章节 (zhāngjié): Chapter; section. These are the items that are listed in a book's 目录.
• 记录 (jìlù): To record; a record. Shares the character 录 and the conceptual root of creating a formal record of information.
• 根目录 (gēn mùlù): Root Directory. A specific and important technical term in computing, showing a specialized use of 目录.