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电 (diàn) — (noun) electricity; electric power; (bound form) electric (used in compounds for devices/appliances); (verb) to give an electric shock

Definition

电 is the basic everyday word for 'electricity' and 'electric' (as in 电灯, electric light). The verb sense means 'to get or give an electric shock.' Compare 闪电 (lightning) and 电力 (electrical power).

noun
electricityelectric power
bound form
electric (used in compounds for devices/appliances)
verb
to give an electric shock
Easily confused

Examples

  • 电，。
    Zhè lǐ méi yǒu diàn, suǒ yǐ hěn hēi.
    There's no electricity here, so it's very dark.
  • 电！
    Xiǎo xīn bié bèi diàn dào!
    Be careful not to get shocked!
  • 。
    Wǒ dǎ kāi le diàn dēng.
    I turned on the electric light.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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.

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 3Energy & Power2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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