微博是一個類似于“推特”的微博客平臺，用戶可以通過網(wǎng)絡、短信或彩信發(fā)布消息，每次最多只能發(fā)送140個字符。由于“微博”一詞的中文發(fā)音與“圍脖”相似，所以人們將“更新微博”戲稱為“織圍脖”。

Much the same as Twitter, microblogs allow users to post messages of 140 Chinese characters or less via the Web, SMS or MMS. Since "微博(microblog)" in Chinese sounds similar to "圍脖(scarf)", the activity of "updating one's microblog (更新微博)" is jokingly dubbed "knitting a scarf (織圍脖)" in China.

自從去年8月新浪網(wǎng)推出微博服務內(nèi)測版以來，微博已成為一種社會風尚。

Microblogging has become an Internet phenomenon since Sina.com started beta testing its microblogging service, Sina Weibo, in August 2009.

“推特將微博的概念引進了中國，不過卻是新浪微博普及了這種網(wǎng)絡服務?！北本┐髮W新聞與傳播學院新媒體方面的專家胡永如此評價。

"Twitter brought the concept of the microblog to China, but it is Sina Weibo that has popularized this kind of Internet service here," says Hu Yong, an expert on new media from the School of Journalism and Communication of Peking University.

《中國青年報》對全國30個?。ㄗ灾螀^(qū)、直轄市）的3282人進行的一項調(diào)查顯示，87%的人會上微博了解大家對一些時事的看法并發(fā)表意見。

According to a China Youth Daily survey, which involved 3,282 people from 30 provinces around China, 87 percent of them use microblogs to read about public opinion on current affairs and post their own thoughts.

微博在很多方面改變了人們的生活，而且往往給人們帶來更多的便利。調(diào)查中，有62%的人表示參與過微博上發(fā)起的公益行動。另外，67% 的人表示微博改變了他們交友、溝通的方式和習慣。還有與此比例相當?shù)娜吮硎?，微博能隨時隨地記錄想法，改變了他們的表達習慣。

Microblogging has changed people's lives in many ways, often for the better. Among the surveyed people, 62 percent used microblogs to participate in charitable activities. 67 percent say microblogging has changed the way they make friends and communicate with others. A similar number say it has changed their way of expressing themselves and they are now able to record their thoughts anywhere, any time.

(China.org.cn November 30, 2010)