水力发电 (shuǐ lì fā diàn) — hydroelectric power generation

Definition

Hydroelectric power generation — electricity produced from the energy of moving water, typically via dams.

noun
hydroelectric power generation

Examples

  • 水力发电。
    Zhè ge dì qū de zhǔ yào néng yuán shì shuǐ lì fā diàn.
    The main energy source in this area is hydroelectric power generation.
  • 水力发电。
    shuǐ lì fā diàn Bǐ huǒ diàn gèng huán bǎo.
    Hydroelectric power generation is more environmentally friendly than thermal power.
  • 水力发电。
    Wǒ guó zhèng zài dà lì fā zhǎn shuǐ lì fā diàn.
    Our country is vigorously developing hydroelectric power generation.

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.

水力water power
水shuǐwater力lìpower
偏正Modifier + head
发电generate electricity
发fāgenerate电diànelectricity
动宾Verb + object

水力 means water power, and 发电 means generate electricity; together they describe making electricity with water power.

Characters in this word

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

水 is a simple drawing of water flowing.

Open 水 →

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

力 is drawn as either an arm bending out from the side of the body or a wooden plough.

Open 力 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 發; 发 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 发 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (爆发, 出发) it is 發; in others (理发, 头发) it is 髮.

The form 發, which 发 stands for in many words, was originally drawn as a bow firing an arrow.

Open 发 →

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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