TongTong
Sign in

电子版 (diàn zǐ bǎn) — digital version, electronic edition

Definition

A 'digital version/edition' of something that also exists in print — a file, magazine, or textbook you read on screen, contrasted with the paper copy. 电子书 names the device/app or the book-shaped product itself.

noun
digital versionelectronic edition

Examples

  • 电子版。
    Wǒ zài wǎng shàng xià zài le zhè běn zá zhì de diàn zǐ bǎn.
    I downloaded the digital version of this magazine online.
  • 电子版。
    Zhè běn jiào cái yǒu diàn zǐ bǎn hé zhǐ zhì bǎn liǎng zhǒng.
    This textbook comes in both digital and paper versions.
  • 电子版。
    Nǐ kě yǐ bǎ zhè fèn wén jiàn cún wéi diàn zǐ bǎn.
    You can save this document as a digital version.

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.

电子electronic
电diànelectric子zǐparticle
偏正Modifier + head
版bǎnedition

电 electric + 子 particle forms 电子 electronic, which modifies 版 edition.

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 →

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
片片piàn
Sound part声符shēngfú
反
反fǎn版bǎn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

版 is formed by 片 and 反, with 片 contributing the sense and 反 the sound.

Open 版 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5

Browse more HSK 5 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.