带电 (dài diàn) — to be electrified, to carry electric charge

Definition

带电 means a thing carries electric charge — it is already live, either powered on or holding static. In the safety context of the examples, focus is on whether the object can shock you on contact.

verb
to be electrifiedto carry electric charge

Examples

  • 带电，。
    Zhè ge shè bèi yǐ jīng dài diàn le, qǐng xiǎo xīn.
    This device is already electrified, please be careful.
  • 。
    Wéi xiū qián què rèn diàn xiàn méi yǒu dài zhe diàn.
    Before repairing, confirm that the wires are not carrying electric charge.
  • 带电，。
    Zhè zhǒng cái liào bú dài diàn, kě yǐ ān quán chù mō.
    This material is not electrified, you can touch it safely.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

带dàicarry
电diànelectricity

带 gives carrying, and 电 gives electricity, so it means to carry an electric charge.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 帶; 带 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 帶 was drawn as a woven belt; the simplified 带 is a later shorthand.

Open 带 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 電; 电 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
雨雨yǔrain
Sound part声符shēngfú
申
申shēn電diàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For the traditional form 電, 雨 (rain) sits with 申, read shēn and meaning lightning.

Open 电 →

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