Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com .
《好奇的孩子》是一个适合所有年龄段儿童的系列。 如果您有问题需要专家解答，请将其发送至 CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com 。
What is Bluetooth? – Henry, age 13, Somerville, Massachusetts
什么是蓝牙？ – Henry，13 岁，马萨诸塞州萨默维尔
How do headphones, toys, gadgets and other devices talk to each other without any wires? Many of them connect with Bluetooth. It’s a technology that allows different devices to communicate wirelessly. Think of it as a device’s voice that it uses to share information.
耳机、玩具、小工具和其他设备如何在没有任何电线的情况下相互通信？ 其中许多都通过蓝牙连接。 这是一项允许不同设备进行无线通信的技术。 将其视为用于共享信息的设备的声音。
Bluetooth works by sending radio wave signals between devices. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves , which are a type of energy that moves from one place to another. Other kinds of electromagnetic waves include heat, light and X-rays. Radio waves can carry information, from the sights and sounds on a TV to data on a laptop. As an example, your music player sends the music through these invisible waves to your headphones.
蓝牙的工作原理是在设备之间发送无线电波信号。 无线电波是电磁波，是一种从一个地方移动到另一个地方的能量。 其他种类的电磁波包括热、光和 X 射线。 无线电波可以携带信息，从电视上的景象和声音到笔记本电脑上的数据。 例如，您的音乐播放器通过这些看不见的波将音乐发送到您的耳机。
I’m an electrical and computer engineer and I study wireless technologies . Every device that uses Bluetooth contains a set of computer chips that send and receive these radio waves.
我是一名电气和计算机工程师，研究无线技术。 每个使用蓝牙的设备都包含一组发送和接收这些无线电波的计算机芯片。
Connecting through Bluetooth starts with a process called pairing. Pairing is like first introductions between two people, where they acknowledge each other and agree to talk to each other. Once paired, the devices remember each other and don’t have to be paired the next time.
通过蓝牙连接从称为配对的过程开始。 配对就像两个人之间的第一次介绍，他们互相认可并同意互相交谈。 配对后，设备会互相记住，下次无需配对。
Bluetooth is everywhere! Over 5 billion Bluetooth devices were sold worldwide in 2025. It’s in headphones for listening to wireless music and in video games that let you play with wireless controllers. Smartphones and tablets use Bluetooth to share photos, videos and files with friends. Smartwatches connect to your phone to get notifications and track your fitness. In cars, Bluetooth lets you play music from your phone and enables hands-free calls.
蓝牙无处不在！ 2025 年，全球蓝牙设备销量将超过 50 亿台。 它可以用在耳机中聆听无线音乐，也可以在视频游戏中使用无线控制器。 智能手机和平板电脑使用蓝牙与朋友共享照片、视频和文件。 智能手表连接到您的手机以获取通知并跟踪您的健康状况。 在汽车中，蓝牙可让您通过手机播放音乐并实现免提通话。
Bluetooth is named after a Scandinavian king, Harald Bluetooth Gormsson , who united parts of the Nordic region in the 900s, because the technology unites different devices. The symbol for Bluetooth comes from a combination of two ancient Nordic runes, or symbols, for the king’s initials.
蓝牙以斯堪的纳维亚国王 Harald Bluetooth Gormsson 的名字命名，他在 900 年代统一了北欧地区的部分地区，因为该技术统一了不同的设备。 蓝牙的符号来自两个古老的北欧符文或符号的组合，代表国王的名字首字母。
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi complement each other, serving different purposes in our everyday connected world.
蓝牙和 Wi-Fi 相辅相成，在我们的日常互联世界中发挥着不同的作用。
Bluetooth is great for things that need moderate but not superfast speeds, such as streaming music or connecting devices. For faster needs, people use Wi-Fi . Bluetooth is not ideal for transferring large files or streaming high-definition video. But for most everyday tasks, it’s pretty capable.
蓝牙非常适合需要中等但不需要超快速度的事物，例如流媒体音乐或连接设备。 为了更快的需求，人们使用Wi-Fi。 蓝牙并不适合传输大文件或流式传输高清视频。 但对于大多数日常任务来说，它的能力相当强大。
Bluetooth is ideal for short-range connections up to 30 feet, so mostly when the two connected devices are in the same room. Wi-Fi, on the other hand, is designed for longer-range communication, up to 300 feet – for example, within a house or school building.
蓝牙非常适合 30 英尺以内的短距离连接，因此大多数情况下当两个连接的设备位于同一房间时。 另一方面，Wi-Fi 专为远距离通信而设计，最远可达 300 英尺，例如在房屋或学校建筑内。
Bluetooth connects devices directly to each other without needing to connect to the internet. But if you need high-speed internet access or to create a local network of multiple devices, Wi-Fi is the way to go.
蓝牙可将设备直接相互连接，无需连接到互联网。 但如果您需要高速互联网接入或创建多个设备的本地网络，Wi-Fi 是您的最佳选择。
Bluetooth is good for when it’s important to use low amounts of power to connect devices, like for wireless devices that run on batteries. Wi-Fi consumes more power, so the Wi-Fi routers that connect devices to each other and the internet typically have to be plugged into an outlet.
当需要使用低电量连接设备时（例如使用电池运行的无线设备），蓝牙非常有用。 Wi-Fi 消耗更多电量，因此将设备相互连接以及连接互联网的 Wi-Fi 路由器通常必须插入插座。
From blasting music to tracking your steps or sharing a meme with a friend, Bluetooth makes it faster and easier. So the next time you use your wireless headphones, you’ll know the technology behind the magical flow of songs through the airwaves.
从播放音乐到追踪步数或与朋友分享表情包，蓝牙让一切变得更快、更轻松。 因此，下次您使用无线耳机时，您就会了解歌曲通过电波神奇流动背后的技术。
Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com . Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live.
哈喽，好奇的孩子们！ 您有需要专家解答的问题吗？ 请成人将您的问题发送至 CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com 。 请告诉我们您的姓名、年龄和您居住的城市。
And since curiosity has no age limit – adults, let us know what you’re wondering, too. We won’t be able to answer every question, but we will do our best.
由于好奇心没有年龄限制——成年人，也请告诉我们您想知道什么。 我们无法回答所有问题，但我们会尽力而为。