tíngdiàn: 停电 - Power Outage, Blackout

  • Keywords: tingdian, 停电, power outage in Chinese, blackout in Chinese, what does tingdian mean, how to say power cut in Mandarin, electricity is out in Chinese, Chinese vocabulary, learn Mandarin
  • Summary: Learn how to say “power outage” or “blackout” in Mandarin Chinese with our guide to 停电 (tíngdiàn). This essential and practical term is a must-know for anyone living, working, or traveling in China. It covers everything from a sudden power cut in your apartment to a scheduled city-wide blackout. This page breaks down the characters, explores the cultural context of power supply in China, and provides 10 real-world example sentences to help you master its usage in any situation.
  • Pinyin (with tone marks): tíngdiàn
  • Part of Speech: Verb-object compound (can function as a verb or a noun)
  • HSK Level: HSK 4
  • Concise Definition: To stop supplying electricity; a power outage.
  • In a Nutshell: 停电 (tíngdiàn) is the standard, everyday term for a power outage. It's a literal combination of “stop” and “electricity.” Whether the lights go out because of a storm, a scheduled maintenance check, or a problem at the power plant, this is the word you will hear and use. It's a neutral, factual term that simply describes the state of having no electricity from the grid.
  • 停 (tíng): This character means “to stop,” “to halt,” or “to park.” You can visualize it as a person (人) standing next to a pavilion (亭), a place to stop and rest.
  • 电 (diàn): This character means “electricity” or “electric.” Its ancient form was a pictogram of lightning flashing from a cloud, representing a powerful natural force.
  • Together, 停电 (tíngdiàn) literally means “stop electricity.” The combination is direct and unambiguous, making it very easy to remember.

While a power outage is a universal inconvenience, the context surrounding 停电 (tíngdiàn) in China can differ from the typical Western experience. In many Western countries like the United States, power outages are almost always unexpected events caused by severe weather or equipment failure, and they are treated as minor emergencies. In China, especially during its period of rapid development, 计划停电 (jìhuà tíngdiàn), or “planned power outages,” were much more common and socially accepted. These scheduled blackouts were necessary for infrastructure upgrades and to manage a power grid that was struggling to keep up with explosive demand. As a result, many Chinese people, particularly those from older generations or from less-developed areas, grew up more accustomed to the idea of a power outage. It wasn't always a crisis, but often a scheduled part of life. This fostered a culture of preparedness—every household had candles, flashlights, and now, a fully charged 充电宝 (chōngdiànbǎo), or power bank, is considered an essential item. Today, in major cities like Shanghai and Beijing, the power grid is extremely stable and unscheduled outages are rare. However, the concept of a planned outage for maintenance still exists, and you will see official notices posted in apartment buildings in advance. This contrasts with the Western assumption that electricity should be available 24/7 without exception, highlighting a different societal relationship with public utilities and infrastructure development.

停电 (tíngdiàn) is a high-frequency, practical term used in a variety of everyday situations.

  • As a Verb/Event: It is most often used to state that a power outage has occurred. The structure is typically `[Place] + 停电 + 了 (le)`. For example, `我们家停电了 (Wǒmen jiā tíngdiàn le)` - “Our house has a power outage.”
  • As a Noun: It can also function as a noun to refer to the event itself. For example, `这次停电是什么原因? (Zhè cì tíngdiàn shì shénme yuányīn?)` - “What's the reason for this power outage?”
  • In Announcements: Property management offices and utility companies use this term in official notices to inform residents of upcoming planned outages.
  • In Conversation: It's used to complain, ask for information, or explain a situation. For instance, you might text a friend: `对不起,我迟到了,因为停电电梯没法用。(Duìbuqǐ, wǒ chídào le, yīnwèi tíngdiàn diàntī méi fǎ yòng.)` - “Sorry I'm late, the elevator wasn't working because of a power outage.”

The term is neutral in connotation; the frustration or relief comes from the surrounding context, not the word itself.

  • Example 1:
    • 哎呀,好像停电了!
    • Pinyin: Āiyā, hǎoxiàng tíngdiàn le!
    • English: Oh no, it seems like there's a power outage!
    • Analysis: A common, spontaneous reaction when the lights suddenly go out. `哎呀 (āiyā)` is an interjection expressing surprise or frustration.
  • Example 2:
    • 我们小区明天上午九点到下午五点会停电
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen xiǎoqū míngtiān shàngwǔ jiǔ diǎn dào xiàwǔ wǔ diǎn huì tíngdiàn.
    • English: Our residential community will have a power outage tomorrow from 9 AM to 5 PM.
    • Analysis: This is a typical example of an announcement for a planned outage (`计划停电`).
  • Example 3:
    • 昨晚的停电持续了多久?
    • Pinyin: Zuówǎn de tíngdiàn chíxù le duōjiǔ?
    • English: How long did the power outage last night?
    • Analysis: Here, 停电 is used as a noun, modified by `昨晚的 (zuówǎn de)` meaning “last night's”.
  • Example 4:
    • 因为突然停电,我的电脑文件都没来得及保存。
    • Pinyin: Yīnwèi tūrán tíngdiàn, wǒ de diànnǎo wénjiàn dōu méi láidejí bǎocún.
    • English: Because of the sudden power outage, I didn't have time to save my computer files.
    • Analysis: This sentence highlights a negative consequence of an unplanned outage. `突然 (tūrán)` means “suddenly.”
  • Example 5:
    • 你知道为什么停电吗?
    • Pinyin: Nǐ zhīdào wèishénme tíngdiàn ma?
    • English: Do you know why the power is out?
    • Analysis: A simple and direct question to ask a neighbor or property manager during a blackout.
  • Example 6:
    • 如果夏天停电,空调就不能用了,会非常热。
    • Pinyin: Rúguǒ xiàtiān tíngdiàn, kōngtiáo jiù bùnéng yòng le, huì fēicháng rè.
    • English: If the power goes out in the summer, the air conditioner won't work, and it will be extremely hot.
    • Analysis: This is a hypothetical sentence using `如果 (rúguǒ)` meaning “if.” It shows how 停电 can be part of a cause-and-effect statement.
  • Example 7:
    • 物业说,这次停电是因为设备检修。
    • Pinyin: Wùyè shuō, zhè cì tíngdiàn shì yīnwèi shèbèi jiǎnxiū.
    • English: The property management said this power outage is due to equipment maintenance.
    • Analysis: `物业 (wùyè)` is a key vocabulary word for anyone living in a Chinese apartment complex. This sentence shows how you might receive information about an outage.
  • Example 8:
    • 整个城市都停电了,街上一片漆黑。
    • Pinyin: Zhěnggè chéngshì dōu tíngdiàn le, jiē shàng yīpiàn qīhēi.
    • English: The entire city had a power outage; the streets were pitch black.
    • Analysis: This describes a large-scale blackout. `一片漆黑 (yīpiàn qīhēi)` is a great idiom for “pitch-black.”
  • Example 9:
    • 停电的时候,我们点了蜡烛,感觉还挺浪漫的。
    • Pinyin: Tíngdiàn de shíhou, wǒmen diǎn le làzhú, gǎnjué hái tǐng làngmàn de.
    • English: When the power was out, we lit candles, and it felt quite romantic.
    • Analysis: This shows a more positive or personal experience associated with a power outage. `…的时候 (…de shíhou)` means “when…”
  • Example 10:
    • 别担心,电很快就会来的。这只是临时停电
    • Pinyin: Bié dānxīn, diàn hěn kuài jiù huì lái de. Zhè zhǐshì línshí tíngdiàn.
    • English: Don't worry, the power will come back soon. This is just a temporary outage.
    • Analysis: This is a reassuring phrase you can use. `临时 (línshí)` means “temporary.” Note the use of `来电 (lái diàn)` (power comes back) in the first part.
  • 停电 (tíngdiàn) vs. 没电 (méi diàn): This is the most common mistake for learners.
    • 停电 (tíngdiàn): Refers to the power supply from the grid being cut. It affects a building, an area, or a city.
    • 没电 (méi diàn): Literally “no electricity.” This is used for devices that have run out of battery.
    • Correct: `我的手机没电了。(Wǒ de shǒujī méi diàn le.)` - My phone is out of battery.
    • Incorrect: `我的手机停电了。` (This would sound like your phone itself provides power to a grid and has stopped doing so.)
    • Correct: `我家停电了,所以我手机没法充电。(Wǒ jiā tíngdiàn le, suǒyǐ wǒ shǒujī méi fǎ chōngdiàn.)` - My home has a power outage, so I can't charge my phone.
  • 停电 (tíngdiàn) vs. 关灯 (guān dēng):
    • 停电 (tíngdiàn): An external event where the power source is gone.
    • 关灯 (guān dēng): “To turn off the light.” This is an action you perform yourself.
    • Example: You `关灯 (guān dēng)` when you leave a room. You experience `停电 (tíngdiàn)` when the whole building goes dark.
  • 来电 (lái diàn) - The power comes back on. (Literally “electricity comes.”) This is the direct antonym.
  • 没电 (méi diàn) - Out of battery; no electricity (used for devices, not buildings).
  • 断电 (duàn diàn) - To cut the power. This term is more active and abrupt, often implying a deliberate or sudden severing of the electrical connection.
  • 供电 (gōng diàn) - To supply electricity; power supply.
  • 计划停电 (jìhuà tíngdiàn) - A scheduled or planned power outage, often for maintenance.
  • 充电宝 (chōngdiànbǎo) - Power bank; portable charger. An essential item for modern life in China, especially in case of 停电.
  • 电费 (diànfèi) - Electricity bill.
  • 发电机 (fādiànjī) - A power generator.
  • 蜡烛 (làzhú) - Candle, a low-tech solution for a 停电.
  • 拉闸限电 (lāzhá xiàndiàn) - A formal term for imposing power restrictions or controlled blackouts, often used in news reports about energy shortages.