====== diànyuán: 电源 - Power Source, Power Supply ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** diànyuán, 电源, power source in Chinese, power supply, electricity, charger, adapter, Chinese for electricity, tech vocabulary, what is dianyuan, Chinese for outlet
  * **Summary:** An essential term for modern life, **电源 (diànyuán)** is the fundamental Chinese word for "power source" or "power supply." It's a literal and practical term you'll encounter everywhere, from charging your phone and using a computer to discussing national infrastructure. Understanding **电源** is crucial for anyone navigating daily life, technology, or travel in China. This page breaks down its meaning, characters, and extensive practical uses.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** diàn yuán
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4
  * **Concise Definition:** The source from which electrical energy is obtained.
  * **In a Nutshell:** Think of **电源 (diànyuán)** as the origin point of electricity for any device or system. It's not the electricity itself, but where it comes from. Whether you're talking about a tiny phone charger, a bulky computer power supply unit (PSU), or the entire electrical grid, **电源** is the correct and most common term to use. It's a highly logical and descriptive word.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **电 (diàn):** This character means "electricity" or "electric." Its traditional form (電) shows a cloud with lightning (雨) stretching down over a field (田), vividly depicting a lightning strike. In its simplified form, it has become a fundamental component for countless technology-related words like `电脑 (diànnǎo)` - computer, and `电话 (diànyuà)` - telephone.
  * **源 (yuán):** This character means "source," "origin," or "fountainhead." The water radical (氵) on the left hints at its original meaning: the source of a river. It represents the starting point of something.
  * When combined, the meaning is perfectly clear: **电 (diàn)** "electricity" + **源 (yuán)** "source" = **电源 (diànyuán)** "electricity source."
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  * While **电源 (diànyuán)** is a technical term, its ubiquity reflects China's rapid modernization and technological leap. A stable and accessible **电源** is the bedrock of the country's high-speed rail, cashless mobile payment systems, and sprawling megacities. The concept is deeply tied to the national goals of development, stability, and technological self-sufficiency.
  * In the West, one might talk about "the grid" as a somewhat abstract entity. In China, discussion around the national **电源** often involves a sense of collective pride in massive engineering feats like the Three Gorges Dam (三峡大坝), which was built to secure the nation's power supply. On a personal level, the search for a **电源** (often a power bank or outlet) is a daily, unifying experience for virtually everyone in urban China, reflecting a society that is hyper-connected and constantly "online."
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
  * **电源 (diànyuán)** is an incredibly common and practical word used in numerous contexts.
  **--- In Daily Life ---**
  * You'll use it most often when talking about charging devices. While `插座 (chāzuò)` is the precise word for an "outlet," it's very common for people to ask for a **电源** when they just need a place to plug in. It's also used for power buttons and power supplies for appliances.
  **--- In Technical and Business Contexts ---**
  * In IT and engineering, **电源** refers to the Power Supply Unit (PSU) of a computer or the power source for industrial machinery. A stable **电源** is a critical requirement for any factory or data center.
  **--- Compound Words ---**
  * **电源** forms the base of many essential compound words:
    * **移动电源 (yídòng diànyuán):** Portable power source, i.e., a power bank.
    * **电源线 (diànyuánxiàn):** Power cord.
    * **电源键 (diànyuánjiàn):** Power button.
    * **电源适配器 (diànyuán shìpèiqì):** Power adapter.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 我的手机没电了，附近有**电源**吗？
    * Pinyin: Wǒ de shǒujī méi diàn le, fùjìn yǒu **diànyuán** ma?
    * English: My phone is dead, is there a power source (outlet) nearby?
    * Analysis: This is a very common and practical phrase. Here, **电源** is used colloquially to mean "a place to charge," which usually implies an electrical outlet.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 你能帮我按一下电脑的**电源**键吗？
    * Pinyin: Nǐ néng bāng wǒ àn yīxià diànnǎo de **diànyuán**jiàn ma?
    * English: Can you help me press the power button on the computer?
    * Analysis: This shows how **电源** is used in compound words. `电源键 (diànyuánjiàn)` literally means "power source key."
  * **Example 3:**
    * 这台笔记本电脑的**电源**适配器坏了。
    * Pinyin: Zhè tái bǐjìběn diànnǎo de **diànyuán** shìpèiqì huài le.
    * English: The power adapter for this laptop is broken.
    * Analysis: `电源适配器 (diànyuán shìpèiqì)` is the specific term for the power brick/adapter that converts AC to DC power for electronics.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 如果电脑打不开，先检查一下**电源**有没有插好。
    * Pinyin: Rúguǒ diànnǎo dǎbùkāi, xiān jiǎnchá yīxià **diànyuán** yǒu méiyǒu chā hǎo.
    * English: If the computer won't turn on, first check if the power supply is plugged in properly.
    * Analysis: Here, **电源** refers to the entire power connection, including the cord and the connection to the wall.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 我出门旅行总会带一个移动**电源**。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ chūmén lǚxíng zǒng huì dài yī ge yídòng **diànyuán**.
    * English: I always bring a portable power source (power bank) when I travel.
    * Analysis: `移动电源 (yídòng diànyuán)`, or "mobile power source," is the standard term for a power bank.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 暴风雨导致了全城**电源**中断。
    * Pinyin: Bàofēngyǔ dǎozhì le quán chéng **diànyuán** zhōngduàn.
    * English: The storm caused a city-wide power supply interruption.
    * Analysis: This is a more formal usage, referring to the electrical grid itself as the **电源**. `中断 (zhōngduàn)` means "to interrupt."
  * **Example 7:**
    * 请把总**电源**关掉。
    * Pinyin: Qǐng bǎ zǒng **diànyuán** guān diào.
    * English: Please turn off the main power switch.
    * Analysis: `总电源 (zǒng diànyuán)` refers to the main power supply for a building or a large piece of equipment, often the circuit breaker.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 这台机器需要稳定的**电源**才能正常工作。
    * Pinyin: Zhè tái jīqì xūyào wěndìng de **diànyuán** cáinéng zhèngcháng gōngzuò.
    * English: This machine requires a stable power supply to operate normally.
    * Analysis: A common phrase in technical or industrial settings, emphasizing the quality of the power source.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 你的**电源**线不够长，用这个吧。
    * Pinyin: Nǐ de **diànyuán**xiàn bùgòu cháng, yòng zhège ba.
    * English: Your power cord isn't long enough, use this one.
    * Analysis: `电源线 (diànyuánxiàn)` is the specific word for a power cable or cord.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 这个设备可以直接用USB**电源**。
    * Pinyin: Zhège shèbèi kěyǐ zhíjiē yòng USB **diànyuán**.
    * English: This device can be powered directly by a USB power source.
    * Analysis: Shows how **电源** can be combined with other terms like "USB" to describe specific types of power sources.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **`电源 (diànyuán)` vs. `电 (diàn)`:** This is the most common point of confusion.
    * `电 (diàn)` is the electricity itself, the "charge."
    * `电源 (diànyuán)` is the **source** of that electricity.
    * **Correct:** 我的手机没**电**了。(Wǒ de shǒujī méi **diàn** le.) - My phone has no electricity.
    * **Incorrect:** 我的手机没**电源**了。(This would mean "My phone has no power source," which is illogical unless the battery was physically removed.)
  * **`电源 (diànyuán)` vs. `插座 (chāzuò)`:**
    * `插座 (chāzuò)` is the specific word for an electrical outlet/socket on the wall.
    * `电源 (diànyuán)` is the general term for a power source.
    * While you can ask "有电源吗？" (Is there a power source?) when you need an outlet, and people will understand, the more precise term is "有插座吗？" (Is there an outlet?). Using **电源** is slightly more colloquial in this context.
  * **False Friend: "Power"**
    * In English, "power" can mean strength, authority, or influence (e.g., "political power"). **电源** **never** means this. For abstract power or strength, you should use words like `力量 (lìliàng)` or `权力 (quánlì)`.
    * **Incorrect:** 他有很多**电源**。(Tā yǒu hěn duō **diànyuán**.) This means "He has many power supplies," not "He has a lot of power."
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[插座]] (chāzuò) - The electrical socket/outlet on a wall. More specific than **电源**.
  * [[充电器]] (chōngdiànqì) - A charger for a device. It connects the device to the **电源**.
  * [[移动电源]] (yídòng diànyuán) - A power bank or portable charger; a "mobile power source."
  * [[电源线]] (diànyuánxiàn) - The power cord/cable that connects an appliance to the **电源**.
  * [[电池]] (diànchí) - Battery. A type of self-contained **电源**.
  * [[停电]] (tíngdiàn) - Power outage; literally "stop electricity." This happens when the main **电源** is cut off.
  * [[电]] (diàn) - Electricity. The energy that comes from a **电源**.
  * [[开关]] (kāiguān) - A switch. Used to turn a **电源** on or off.
  * [[电压]] (diànyā) - Voltage. A technical property of a **电源**.
  * [[电力]] (diànlì) - Electric power; electrical force. A broader term often used when discussing the power industry.