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电动 (diàn dòng) — electric-powered

Definition

Means 'electric-powered' — describes machines or devices driven by electricity rather than by hand, fuel, or pedals (e.g., 电动自行车, 电动玩具). Pairs with vehicles, tools, and household devices.

adjective
electric-powered

Examples

  • 电动。
    Zhè dòng lóu ān zhuāng le diàn dòng mén.
    This building has installed electric doors.
  • 电动。
    Hái zi hěn xǐ huan wán diàn dòng wán jù.
    The child really likes playing with electric toys.
  • 电动。
    Tā měi tiān qí diàn dòng mó tuō chē shàng bān.
    He rides an electric motorcycle to work every day.

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
动dòngmove/power

电 specifies electricity, and 动 is movement or power; together they mean electric-powered.

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 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng動dòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

Open 动 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5Energy & Power

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