kě zàishēng néngyuán: 可再生能源 - Renewable Energy

• Keywords: kě zàishēng néngyuán, 可再生能源, renewable energy in China, Chinese for renewable energy, sustainable energy, China's energy policy, solar power China, wind power China, clean energy, Mandarin Chinese vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 可再生能源 (kě zàishēng néngyuán), which means “renewable energy.” This page breaks down the characters, explores its crucial role in modern China's “Ecological Civilization” policy, and provides practical example sentences. Understand how China discusses solar, wind, and hydropower, and why this term is vital for anyone interested in contemporary Chinese society, technology, and environmental goals.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): kě zàishēng néngyuán
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: Advanced (HSK 6+)
• Concise Definition: Energy derived from natural sources that are replenished on a human timescale, such as sunlight, wind, and water.
• In a Nutshell: 可再生能源 (kě zàishēng néngyuán) is the standard, technical term for “renewable energy.” It's a compound word that literally translates to “can-be-re-generated energy-source.” It's not an ancient philosophical concept but a modern term that has become extremely important in 21st-century China due to the government's massive push for sustainable development and carbon neutrality.

• 可 (kě): Meaning “can,” “able to,” or the suffix “-able.” It indicates possibility or capability.
• 再 (zài): Meaning “again” or “once more.”
• 生 (shēng): Meaning “to be born,” “to generate,” or “to produce.”
• 能 (néng): Meaning “energy,” “power,” or “ability.”
• 源 (yuán): Meaning “source” or “origin.”

The characters combine logically: 可 (kě) modifies 再生 (zàishēng), which means “to regenerate” or “be born again.” This forms 可再生 (kě zàishēng), “regenerable” or “renewable.” This is then combined with 能源 (néngyuán), the standard word for “energy source.” So, the term literally means “can-be-regenerated energy source,” a perfect and direct translation of “renewable energy.”

The significance of 可再生能源 (kě zàishēng néngyuán) is not rooted in ancient Chinese philosophy but in China's contemporary national strategy. For decades, China's rapid economic growth was fueled by coal, leading to severe air pollution and environmental degradation. In response, the Chinese government has made a monumental pivot towards sustainability. This term is a cornerstone of the national policy known as 生态文明 (shēngtài wénmíng) - “Ecological Civilization.” This concept, enshrined in the constitution, frames environmental protection and sustainable development as central to the nation's future prosperity and rejuvenation. 可再生能源 is the primary tool to achieve this vision and meet ambitious goals like carbon neutrality (碳中和, tàn zhōnghé) by 2060. To compare, in many Western countries, the push for renewable energy is often a contentious political issue with strong grassroots movements and market-driven incentives. In China, while public awareness is growing, the transition is characterized by a top-down, state-led mobilization of resources on an unprecedented scale. Therefore, when you hear 可再生能源 in a Chinese context, it's not just an environmental buzzword; it's a signal of national priority, massive infrastructure projects, and a key element of China's technological and geopolitical ambitions.

可再生能源 is a standard term used across various contexts, from formal to semi-formal.

• In the News and Government: This is where you'll encounter the term most frequently. News reports, policy documents, and official speeches are filled with references to developing 可再生能源 to combat climate change and ensure energy security.
• In Business and Technology: In the corporate world, discussions about investment, manufacturing (e.g., solar panels, wind turbines), and R&D heavily feature this term. China is the world's largest producer and consumer of renewable energy technology.
• In Daily Conversation: While it's a slightly technical term, it's common in conversations among educated people discussing current events, environmental issues, or new technologies like electric cars (电动汽车) and rooftop solar panels (屋顶太阳能板).

The connotation is almost universally positive, associated with modernity, clean living, technological advancement, and a responsible future.

• Example 1:
  • 中国正在大力发展可再生能源。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó zhèngzài dàlì fāzhǎn kě zàishēng néngyuán.
  • English: China is vigorously developing renewable energy.
  • Analysis: A common sentence you would hear on the news or read in an article. “大力发展 (dàlì fāzhǎn)” means “to develop with great effort” and shows the high priority of the topic.
• Example 2:
  • 太阳能和风能是最常见的可再生能源类型。
  • Pinyin: Tàiyángnéng hé fēngnéng shì zuì chángjiàn de kě zàishēng néngyuán lèixíng.
  • English: Solar and wind power are the most common types of renewable energy.
  • Analysis: This sentence provides specific examples, showing how the term functions as a category.
• Example 3:
  • 我们需要从化石燃料转向可再生能源。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào cóng huàshí ránliào zhuǎnxiàng kě zàishēng néngyuán.
  • English: We need to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the term used in contrast to its opposite, “化石燃料 (huàshí ránliào),” or fossil fuels.
• Example 4:
  • 投资可再生能源项目有很大的潜力。
  • Pinyin: Tóuzī kě zàishēng néngyuán xiàngmù yǒu hěn dà de qiánlì.
  • English: Investing in renewable energy projects has great potential.
  • Analysis: A typical sentence in a business or financial context.
• Example 5:
  • 这个国家可再生能源发电量占总量的百分之三十。
  • Pinyin: Zhège guójiā kě zàishēng néngyuán fādiànliàng zhàn zǒng liàng de bǎifēnzhī sānshí.
  • English: In this country, renewable energy power generation accounts for 30% of the total.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the term in a statistical context, common in reports and analysis.
• Example 6:
  • 可再生能源技术在过去十年里取得了巨大进步。
  • Pinyin: Kě zàishēng néngyuán jìshù zài guòqù shí nián lǐ qǔdéle jùdà jìnbù.
  • English: Renewable energy technology has made huge progress in the last ten years.
  • Analysis: This highlights the connection between the energy source and the technology (技术, jìshù) behind it.
• Example 7:
  • 使用可再生能源是应对气候变化的关键一步。
  • Pinyin: Shǐyòng kě zàishēng néngyuán shì yìngduì qìhòu biànhuà de guānjiàn yībù.
  • English: Using renewable energy is a key step in combating climate change.
  • Analysis: This connects the term to the global goal of “应对气候变化 (yìngduì qìhòu biànhuà),” or tackling climate change.
• Example 8:
  • 你们公司未来会更多地使用可再生能源吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐmen gōngsī wèilái huì gèng duō de shǐyòng kě zàishēng néngyuán ma?
  • English: Will your company use more renewable energy in the future?
  • Analysis: A practical question that could be asked in a business meeting or interview.
• Example 9:
  • 政府为安装可再生能源设备提供补贴。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ wèi ānzhuāng kě zàishēng néngyuán shèbèi tígōng bǔtiē.
  • English: The government provides subsidies for installing renewable energy equipment.
  • Analysis: This points to the policy mechanisms (subsidies, 补贴 bǔtiē) used to promote adoption.
• Example 10:
  • 发展可再生能源对于实现可持续发展至关重要。
  • Pinyin: Fāzhǎn kě zàishēng néngyuán duìyú shíxiàn kě chíxù fāzhǎn zhì guān zhòngyào.
  • English: Developing renewable energy is crucial for achieving sustainable development.
  • Analysis: This sentence links the term to the broader concept of “可持续发展 (kě chíxù fāzhǎn),” sustainable development.

• Mistaking it for “Clean Energy”: The most common point of confusion is between 可再生能源 (kě zàishēng néngyuán) and 清洁能源 (qīngjié néngyuán), “clean energy.”
  • 可再生能源 (Renewable): Refers to the source being naturally replenished (solar, wind, hydro).
  • 清洁能源 (Clean): Refers to low or zero carbon emissions.
  • Relationship: Most renewable energy is also clean energy. However, not all clean energy is renewable. For example, nuclear power (核能, hénéng) is considered a form of clean energy because it doesn't produce greenhouse gases, but it is not renewable because it relies on a finite resource (uranium). This is a key distinction in energy policy discussions.
  • Incorrect: ~~核能是一种可再生能源。~~ (Nuclear power is a type of renewable energy.)
  • Correct: 核能是一种清洁能源，但不是可再生能源。(Nuclear power is a type of clean energy, but it is not renewable energy.)
• Overusing it for Specific Types: In casual conversation, people are more likely to name the specific type of energy. Instead of saying “My home uses renewable energy,” it's more natural to say “My home has solar panels” (我家有太阳能板, Wǒ jiā yǒu tàiyángnéng bǎn). 可再生能源 is more of a category name used in broader discussions.

• 清洁能源 (qīngjié néngyuán) - Clean energy. A broader category that includes renewables and sometimes nuclear power.
• 非可再生能源 (fēi kě zàishēng néngyuán) - Non-renewable energy. The direct antonym.
• 化石燃料 (huàshí ránliào) - Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas). The primary type of non-renewable energy.
• 太阳能 (tàiyángnéng) - Solar energy. A key type of renewable energy.
• 风能 (fēngnéng) - Wind energy. Another key type of renewable energy.
• 水力发电 (shuǐlì fādiàn) - Hydroelectric power. Literally “water-power generate-electricity.”
• 环境保护 (huánjìng bǎohù) - Environmental protection. The broader field to which renewable energy contributes.
• 可持续发展 (kě chíxù fāzhǎn) - Sustainable development. The ultimate goal that renewable energy helps to achieve.
• 碳中和 (tàn zhōnghé) - Carbon neutrality. A specific national policy goal driving the push for renewables in China.
• 生态文明 (shēngtài wénmíng) - Ecological Civilization. The overarching political philosophy guiding China's environmental and development policies.