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电线 (diàn xiàn) — wire; power cord

Definition

电线 is a physical wire — the visible cord or cable carrying electricity. 线路 is a more technical 'line/circuit' (the abstract path or system), while 线 is a generic word for thread, string, or line.

noun
wirepower cord
Measure word · 根

Examples

  • 电线，。
    Zhè gēn diàn xiàn tài xì le, bù néng yòng.
    This wire is too thin; it can't be used.
  • 电线。
    Qù wǔ jīn diàn mǎi yì gēn diàn xiàn ba.
    Go to the hardware store and buy a wire.
  • 电线。
    Zhè xiē diàn xiàn wài miàn bāo zhe hòu hòu de sù liào.
    These wires are wrapped in thick plastic.

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diànelectricity
线xiànwire

“电” indicates electricity, and “线” is a wire, so the word means an electrical wire.

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 線; 线 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
泉
泉quán線xiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 線 uses 糹 (silk/thread) to show the meaning and 泉 to suggest the sound; the simplified 线 is a later shorthand.

Open 线 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Energy & Power

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