光电 (guāng diàn) — photoelectricity; optoelectronics

Definition

Compound noun referring to the conversion of light into electricity, and the technology built on it. Functions as a modifier before nouns (光电技术, 光电设备) rather than standing alone.

noun
photoelectricityoptoelectronics

Examples

  • 光电。
    guāng diàn Xiào yìng shì wù lǐ xué de zhòng yào gài niàn.
    The photoelectric effect is an important concept in physics.
  • 光电。
    Zhè ge guāng diàn shè bèi de xiào lǜ hěn gāo.
    The efficiency of this optoelectronic device is very high.
  • 光电。
    Hěn duō shǒu jī dōu shǐ yòng le guāng diàn jì shù.
    Many smartphones use photoelectric technology.

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.

光guānglight
电diànelectricity

"光" (light) and "电" (electricity) combine to denote electricity associated with light.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 火火huǒfire
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

The shape 光 places 火 (fire) above 卩 (a kneeling person), showing fire over the head and the shining of light.

Open 光 →

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 →

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