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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing 'electricity' with 电 (diàn)

    Numbers & Quantity

    Explanation

    电 (diàn) means 'electricity' or 'electric.' It is one of the most versatile characters in modern Chinese, appearing in countless compounds such as 电话 (telephone), 电脑 (computer), and 电视 (television). On its own, it refers to electrical power or current.

    Examples

    • 昨天晚上突然停电了，家里一片漆黑。

      Zuótiān wǎnshang tūrán tíngdiàn le, jiālǐ yī piàn qīhēi.

      The power suddenly went out last night, and the house was pitch black.

    • 记得出门前把电关了。

      Jìde chūmén qián bǎ diàn guān le.

      Remember to turn off the electricity before leaving.

    • 这个月的电费比上个月高了不少。

      Zhège yuè de diànfèi bǐ shàng gè yuè gāo le bù shǎo.

      This month's electricity bill is quite a bit higher than last month's.

    Expressing 'electricity' with 电 (diàn) | Chinese Grammar