TongTong
Sign in

电网 (diàn wǎng) — power grid; electricity grid (the network that distributes electricity); electrified wire netting (used for security, fences, etc.)

Definition

电网 has two distinct senses: the 'power grid' that distributes electricity (most common at HSK 7), and 'electrified wire netting' used as a security fence. The meaning is fixed by context — no sibling confusion applies.

noun
power gridelectricity grid (the network that distributes electricity)electrified wire netting (used for security, fences, etc.)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 电网，。
    Zhè ge dì qū de diàn wǎng shēng jí hòu, tíng diàn cì shù jiǎn shǎo le.
    After the power grid was upgraded in this area, the number of outages decreased.
  • ，电网。
    Wèi le tí gāo gōng diàn kě kào xìng, guó jiā zhèng zài jiàn shè zhì néng diàn wǎng.
    To improve the reliability of power supply, the country is building a smart grid.
  • ，。
    Yǎng zhū chǎng zhōu wéi ān zhuāng le gāo yā diàn wǎng, fáng zhǐ dòng wù táo pǎo.
    High-voltage electrified wire netting was installed around the pig farm to prevent animals from escaping.

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diànelectricity
网wǎngnet; network

“电” indicates electricity, and “网” is a net, so the word means the network distributing 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.

Open 电 →

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 網; 网 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìrope
Sound part声符shēngfú
罔
罔wǎng網wǎng
Same sound today

The traditional form 網 pairs 糸 (rope) with 罔 to give the sound; the simplified 网 is a later shorthand.

Open 网 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Energy & Power

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.