电源 (diàn yuán) — power supply, power source | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

电源 is a concrete, physical power source — the battery, adapter, or backup unit that feeds a device. Compare 电力 (electricity as a utility/service) and 能源 (energy as a broad resource).

noun

power supplypower source

Measure word · 个

Examples

电源，。
Diàn nǎo de diàn yuán huài le, wǒ mǎi le yí gè xīn de.
The computer's power supply broke, so I bought a new one.
电源，。
Zhè ge shǒu jī diàn yuán bú gòu yòng, chōng diàn hěn màn.
This phone's power of this phone is insufficient; it charges slowly.
，电源。
Tíng diàn shí, bèi yòng diàn yuán huì zì dòng qǐ dòng.
When the power goes out, the backup power supply starts automatically.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

电diànelectric

电 electric modifies 源 source, giving the source of electric power.

Characters in this word

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.

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú

水水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

原

原yuán源yuán

Same sound today

源 combines 水 (water) and 原 (origin): 水 points to water, and 原 gives the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Energy & Power

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