微博是一个类似于“推特”的微博客平台，用户可以通过网络、短信或彩信发布消息，每次最多只能发送140个字符。由于“微博”一词的中文发音与“围脖”相似，所以人们将“更新微博”戏称为“织围脖”。

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 "围脖(scarf)", the activity of "updating one's microblog (更新微博)" is jokingly dubbed "knitting a scarf (织围脖)" in China.

自从去年8月新浪网推出微博服务内测版以来，微博已成为一种社会风尚。

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

“推特将微博的概念引进了中国，不过却是新浪微博普及了这种网络服务。”北京大学新闻与传播学院新媒体方面的专家胡永如此评价。

"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.

《中国青年报》对全国30个省（自治区、直辖市）的3282人进行的一项调查显示，87%的人会上微博了解大家对一些时事的看法并发表意见。

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.

微博在很多方面改变了人们的生活，而且往往给人们带来更多的便利。调查中，有62%的人表示参与过微博上发起的公益行动。另外，67% 的人表示微博改变了他们交友、沟通的方式和习惯。还有与此比例相当的人表示，微博能随时随地记录想法，改变了他们的表达习惯。

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)