====== jiādiàn: 家电 - Home Appliance, Household Electrical Appliance ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** jiadian, 家电, home appliance in Chinese, household electrical appliances, Chinese for refrigerator, learn Chinese vocabulary, Chinese words for home, what does jiadian mean, HSK 4 vocabulary * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese word **家电 (jiādiàn)**, which means "home appliances" or "household electrical appliances." This comprehensive guide breaks down the characters 家 (jiā - home) and 电 (diàn - electricity), explores its cultural significance in China's modernization, and provides 10 practical example sentences. Understand how to use jiādiàn when shopping, talking about your home, and distinguish it from similar terms like 电器 (diànqì). ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** jiādiàn * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 * **Concise Definition:** A collective term for household electrical appliances. * **In a Nutshell:** **家电 (jiādiàn)** is the standard, everyday word for all the electrical gadgets and machines you use at home. It's a compound word that literally translates to "home electricity." Think of anything you plug into the wall in your kitchen or living room—like a refrigerator, washing machine, TV, or air conditioner—and it falls under the category of **家电 (jiādiàn)**. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **家 (jiā):** This character means "home," "family," or "household." The top part (宀) is the "roof" radical, and the bottom part (豕) originally depicted a pig. In ancient China, a pig inside a house was a symbol of a settled, domestic home and prosperity. * **电 (diàn):** This character means "electricity" or "electric." It originally depicted a bolt of lightning under a rain cloud, capturing the raw power of electricity in nature. * Together, **家 (jiā) + 电 (diàn)** literally means "home electricity," which logically combines to mean "electrical items used in the home," or "home appliances." ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== While "home appliances" might seem like a simple vocabulary word, **家电 (jiādiàn)** holds significant cultural weight in modern China as a symbol of prosperity, modernity, and family well-being. In the latter half of the 20th century, owning the "三大件" (sān dà jiàn), or "the three big items," was a major life goal and status symbol for Chinese families. These items evolved with the economy: * **1950s-70s:** A bicycle (自行车), a sewing machine (缝纫机), and a watch (手表). * **1980s-90s:** A refrigerator (冰箱), a washing machine (洗衣机), and a color television (彩色电视). This second set of "三大件" are all classic examples of **家电**. Owning them signified that a family had "made it" and was part of China's rapid economic development. A home filled with modern **家电** was—and still is—a source of pride and a way to show care for one's family. This contrasts with the Western concept of "keeping up with the Joneses," which can carry a negative connotation of consumerist competition. In China, acquiring a full set of **家电** is often seen more positively as a foundational step in building a comfortable, modern life for the family, especially for newlyweds. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **家电 (jiādiàn)** is a high-frequency, neutral term used in a wide variety of everyday situations. * **Shopping:** When you go to a department store or shop online on sites like Taobao or JD.com, you will always find a **家电 (jiādiàn)** section or category. * **Daily Conversation:** People use it to talk about buying new appliances, things that are broken, or features of their homes. For example, "我们家最近买了很多新**家电**" (Our family recently bought a lot of new home appliances). * **Real Estate:** When renting or buying an apartment, the listing will often specify if it comes "带**家电**" (dài jiādiàn - with home appliances). * **Advertising:** Brands like Haier (海尔), Midea (美的), and Gree (格力) are massive **家电** manufacturers, and their advertising is ubiquitous in China. The term is standard and can be used in both formal and informal contexts without issue. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 我们家有很多**家电**,比如冰箱、洗衣机和电视。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen jiā yǒu hěn duō **jiādiàn**, bǐrú bīngxiāng, xǐyījī hé diànshì. * English: My home has many appliances, for example, a refrigerator, a washing machine, and a TV. * Analysis: This sentence uses **家电** as a general category, followed by specific examples. "比如" (bǐrú) is a common way to introduce examples. * **Example 2:** * 这周末我想去商场买点新**家电**。 * Pinyin: Zhè zhōumò wǒ xiǎng qù shāngchǎng mǎi diǎn xīn **jiādiàn**. * English: This weekend I want to go to the mall to buy some new home appliances. * Analysis: A very common, practical sentence showing intent to purchase **家电**. "商场" (shāngchǎng) means mall or department store. * **Example 3:** * 这个品牌的**家电**质量怎么样? * Pinyin: Zhège pǐnpái de **jiādiàn** zhìliàng zěnmeyàng? * English: How is the quality of this brand of home appliances? * Analysis: This is a typical question you might ask a friend or a salesperson when shopping. "品牌" (pǐnpái) means brand, and "质量" (zhìliàng) means quality. * **Example 4:** * 哎呀,我家的空调坏了,得找人来修**家电**。 * Pinyin: Āiyā, wǒ jiā de kōngtiáo huài le, děi zhǎo rén lái xiū **jiādiàn**. * English: Oh no, my air conditioner is broken, I have to find someone to repair appliances. * Analysis: This shows **家电** in the context of repairs. Note that "修家电" (xiū jiādiàn) can mean "to repair home appliances" in general. * **Example 5:** * 现在,智能**家电**越来越受欢迎了。 * Pinyin: Xiànzài, zhìnéng **jiādiàn** yuèláiyuè shòu huānyíng le. * English: Nowadays, smart home appliances are becoming more and more popular. * Analysis: This sentence highlights a modern trend. "智能" (zhìnéng) means "smart" or "intelligent." * **Example 6:** * 这个公寓出租,带全套**家电**和家具。 * Pinyin: Zhège gōngyù chūzū, dài quántào **jiādiàn** hé jiājù. * English: This apartment is for rent, and it comes with a full set of appliances and furniture. * Analysis: A very practical sentence found in housing advertisements. "全套" (quántào) means a "full set." * **Example 7:** * 为了省电,我们应该选择节能**家电**。 * Pinyin: Wèile shěng diàn, wǒmen yīnggāi xuǎnzé jiénéng **jiādiàn**. * English: To save electricity, we should choose energy-saving home appliances. * Analysis: This sentence touches upon the topic of environmental consciousness. "节能" (jiénéng) means energy-saving. * **Example 8:** * 国产**家电**的市场占有率很高。 * Pinyin: Guóchǎn **jiādiàn** de shìchǎng zhànyǒulǜ hěn gāo. * English: The market share of domestically produced home appliances is very high. * Analysis: A more formal, business-oriented sentence. "国产" (guóchǎn) means domestically produced. * **Example 9:** * 他们结婚的时候,女方父母送了一整套新**家电**作为嫁妆。 * Pinyin: Tāmen jiéhūn de shíhou, nǚfāng fùmǔ sòng le yī zhěngtào xīn **jiādiàn** zuòwéi jiàzhuang. * English: When they got married, the bride's parents gave a complete set of new home appliances as a dowry. * Analysis: This sentence connects **家电** to the cultural practice of marriage and setting up a new home. "嫁妆" (jiàzhuang) is a dowry. * **Example 10:** * 这家网上商店专门卖各种小**家电**。 * Pinyin: Zhè jiā wǎngshàng shāngdiàn zhuānmén mài gèzhǒng xiǎo **jiādiàn**. * English: This online store specializes in selling all kinds of small home appliances. * Analysis: This introduces the concept of "小家电" (xiǎo jiādiàn), which refers to small appliances like rice cookers, kettles, and blenders. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== A common point of confusion for learners is the difference between **家电 (jiādiàn)** and **电器 (diànqì)**. * **家电 (jiādiàn):** **Household** electrical appliance. The key is **家 (jiā - home)**. This term is specific to items used in a domestic setting. A refrigerator is **家电**. * **电器 (diànqì):** Electrical appliance/equipment. This is a much broader term. All **家电** are a type of **电器**, but not all **电器** are **家电**. **Common Mistake:** Using **家电 (jiādiàn)** to describe an industrial machine. * **Incorrect:** 这个工厂有很多新**家电**。(Zhège gōngchǎng yǒu hěn duō xīn **jiādiàn**.) - This factory has many new home appliances. * **Correct:** 这个工厂有很多新**电器**。(Zhège gōngchǎng yǒu hěn duō xīn **diànqì**.) - This factory has a lot of new electrical equipment. Another point to note is that personal electronics like smartphones (手机 shǒujī) and laptops (笔记本电脑 bǐjìběn diànnǎo) are generally not considered **家电**. They fall under the category of **数码产品 (shùmǎ chǎnpǐn)**, or "digital products." ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[电器]] (diànqì) - A broader term for any electrical appliance or equipment. **家电** is a sub-category of **电器**. * [[家具]] (jiājù) - Furniture. Often discussed alongside **家电** when setting up a new home. * [[数码产品]] (shùmǎ chǎnpǐn) - Digital products. This category includes items like phones, cameras, laptops, and tablets. * [[冰箱]] (bīngxiāng) - Refrigerator. A classic example of a large **家电**. * [[洗衣机]] (xǐyījī) - Washing machine. Another essential **家电**. * [[电视]] (diànshì) - Television. A common **家电** found in the living room. * [[空调]] (kōngtiáo) - Air conditioner. An indispensable **家电** in many parts of China. * [[维修]] (wéixiū) - To repair/maintain. A common verb used when a **家电** is broken. * [[品牌]] (pǐnpái) - Brand. Very important in the competitive **家电** market in China. * [[二手]] (èrshǒu) - Second-hand. Used to describe pre-owned items, including **二手家电** (second-hand appliances).