méi diàn: 没电 - Out of Battery, No Power

• Keywords: meidian, 没电, out of battery Chinese, my phone is dead in Chinese, no power Chinese, no electricity, what does meidian mean, learn Chinese, Chinese vocabulary, HSK2
• Summary: An essential phrase for modern life, 没电 (méi diàn) is the universal Chinese term for “out of battery” or “no power.” It's used for everything from a dead smartphone to a power outage in an entire building. This comprehensive guide will teach you how to use 没电 in practical situations, understand its cultural significance in a tech-reliant China, and avoid common mistakes, complete with dozens of real-world example sentences.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): méi diàn
• Part of Speech: Verb Phrase / Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: To have no electricity or be out of battery power.
• In a Nutshell: `没电` is your go-to phrase for any situation where electrical power is gone. It's a simple, direct, and incredibly common statement of fact. Think of it as a status update: your phone, your laptop, your electric scooter, or even your apartment is in a state of “no electricity.”

• 没 (méi): This character means “not have” or “to be without.” It's the standard way to negate the verb “to have” (`有`, yǒu) and to say something didn't happen in the past.
• 电 (diàn): This character means “electricity” or “power.” Its traditional form (電) was a pictogram of lightning flashing under a rain cloud, vividly capturing the concept of electrical power.

When combined, the logic is straightforward: 没 (méi) + 电 (diàn) = “not have electricity.”

While “out of battery” is a simple concept, the significance of `没电` is amplified in modern China. In a society where daily life is deeply integrated with mobile technology, a phone that is `没电` isn't just an inconvenience—it can be a major problem. Unlike in many Western countries, mobile payment systems like WeChat Pay (微信支付) and Alipay (支付宝) are the primary way to pay for almost everything, from subway tickets and street food to utility bills and shopping. If your phone is `没电`, you can be left unable to pay for a taxi, enter the metro, or even buy a bottle of water. This dependency makes the phrase `我的手机没电了` (Wǒ de shǒujī méi diàn le) carry a weight of genuine, mild panic. Compared to English, which uses various specific phrases like “my phone is dead,” “the battery's flat,” or “the power is out,” `没电` is a wonderfully efficient and versatile catch-all term. It applies equally to a tiny hearing aid battery and a city-wide blackout, demonstrating a common feature in Chinese for practical, context-dependent vocabulary.

`没电` is used constantly in daily conversation. Its meaning is almost always literal and its connotation is one of inconvenience.

This is the most frequent use of the term. It's used for any battery-powered device.

• Phones: `哎呀，我手机快没电了！` (Āiyā, wǒ shǒujī kuài méi diàn le!) - Oh no, my phone is almost out of battery!
• Laptops: `我的笔记本电脑没电了，得找个插座。` (Wǒ de bǐjìběn diànnǎo méi diàn le, děi zhǎo ge chāzuò.) - My laptop is out of power, I need to find an outlet.
• Other gadgets: `这个遥控器是不是没电了？` (Zhège yáokòngqì shì bu shì méi diàn le?) - Is this remote control out of battery?

When referring to a building or an area, `没电` means there has been a power cut.

• `我们家突然没电了，什么都看不见。` (Wǒmen jiā tūrán méi diàn le, shénme dōu kàn bu jiàn.) - Our house suddenly has no power, I can't see anything.
• `对不起，我们店里没电了，现在不能刷卡。` (Duìbuqǐ, wǒmen diàn lǐ méi diàn le, xiànzài bùnéng shuākǎ.) - Sorry, our shop has no power, we can't accept card payments right now.

Occasionally, people use `没电` humorously to describe themselves as being completely exhausted or drained of energy, just like a battery.

• `我今天太累了，感觉自己完全没电了。` (Wǒ jīntiān tài lèi le, gǎnjué zìjǐ wánquán méi diàn le.) - I'm so tired today, I feel completely drained.

• Example 1:
  • 糟糕，我的手机没电了，不能给你打电话了。
  • Pinyin: Zāogāo, wǒ de shǒujī méi diàn le, bùnéng gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà le.
  • English: Oh no, my phone is out of battery, so I can't call you.
  • Analysis: A very common, everyday scenario. The particle `了 (le)` indicates a change of state—the phone has *now* run out of battery.
• Example 2:
  • 你带充电宝了吗？我的手机只有百分之五的电了，快没电了。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ dài chōngdiànbǎo le ma? Wǒ de shǒujī zhǐyǒu bǎi fēn zhī wǔ de diàn le, kuài méi diàn le.
  • English: Did you bring a power bank? My phone only has 5% battery left, it's about to be dead.
  • Analysis: `快…了 (kuài…le)` is a useful structure meaning “about to…” or “soon.” It pairs perfectly with `没电`.
• Example 3:
  • 昨晚我们这儿停电了，所以整个公寓都没电。
  • Pinyin: Zuówǎn wǒmen zhèr tíngdiàn le, suǒyǐ zhěnggè gōngyù dōu méi diàn.
  • English: There was a power outage here last night, so the whole apartment building had no electricity.
  • Analysis: This shows the relationship between `停电 (tíngdiàn)` (the event of a power cut) and `没电` (the resulting state of having no power).
• Example 4:
  • 这个手电筒好像没电了，一点都不亮。
  • Pinyin: Zhège shǒudiàntǒng hǎoxiàng méi diàn le, yīdiǎn dōu bù liàng.
  • English: It seems this flashlight is out of battery; it's not bright at all.
  • Analysis: A simple, direct application of the term to a household object.
• Example 5:
  • 我的电动车没电了，我得推着它回家。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de diàndòngchē méi diàn le, wǒ děi tuī zhe tā huí jiā.
  • English: My electric scooter is out of battery, I have to push it home.
  • Analysis: Very relevant in China, where electric bikes and scooters are ubiquitous.
• Example 6:
  • 别玩游戏了，电脑快没电了，你还有作业没写完呢！
  • Pinyin: Bié wán yóuxì le, diànnǎo kuài méi diàn le, nǐ háiyǒu zuòyè méi xiě wán ne!
  • English: Stop playing games, the computer is about to die, and you still haven't finished your homework!
  • Analysis: A typical sentence you might hear from a parent. Again, note the use of `快…了 (kuài…le)`.
• Example 7:
  • A: 为什么空调打不开？ B: 可能遥控器没电了，换个电池试试。
  • Pinyin: A: Wèishéme kōngtiáo dǎ bù kāi? B: Kěnéng yáokòngqì méi diàn le, huàn ge diànchí shìshi.
  • English: A: Why won't the air conditioner turn on? B: Maybe the remote control is out of battery, try changing the batteries.
  • Analysis: This dialogue demonstrates a common problem-solving scenario involving `没电`.
• Example 8:
  • 如果你的手机经常很快就没电，你应该换一块新电池。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ de shǒujī jīngcháng hěn kuài jiù méi diàn, nǐ yīnggāi huàn yī kuài xīn diànchí.
  • English: If your phone often runs out of battery very quickly, you should get a new battery.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes a recurring problem, showing how `没电` can be used in more complex sentences.
• Example 9:
  • 连续工作了12个小时，我现在感觉自己真的没电了。
  • Pinyin: Liánxù gōngzuò le shí'èr ge xiǎoshí, wǒ xiànzài gǎnjué zìjǐ zhēn de méi diàn le.
  • English: After working for 12 hours straight, I now feel like I'm truly out of energy.
  • Analysis: A clear example of the metaphorical use of `没电` to mean physical or mental exhaustion.
• Example 10:
  • 不用担心，虽然手机没电了，但我带了现金。
  • Pinyin: Bùyòng dānxīn, suīrán shǒujī méi diàn le, dàn wǒ dài le xiànjīn.
  • English: Don't worry, even though my phone is dead, I brought cash.
  • Analysis: A practical sentence that reflects the cultural context of mobile payments in China.

While `没电` is simple, learners often confuse it with similar-sounding concepts.

• `没电` vs. `停电` (tíngdiàn)
  • `没电` is the state of having no power.
  • `停电` (tíngdiàn) is the event of a power cut or outage, usually for a building or area.
  • You can say `我们家停电了 (wǒmen jiā tíngdiàn le)` or `我们家没电了 (wǒmen jiā méi diàn le)` and they mean basically the same thing.
  • However, you cannot apply `停电` to a personal device.
  • Incorrect: `我的手机停电了。` (Wǒ de shǒujī tíngdiàn le.)
  • Correct: `我的手机没电了。` (Wǒ de shǒujī méi diàn le.)
• `没电` vs. `关机` (guānjī)
  • `没电` means the battery is depleted. The device turned off because it ran out of power.
  • `关机` (guānjī) means “to turn off” or “power down.” This is an action you perform intentionally. A device can be `关机` but have a 100% full battery.
  • Example: `他生气了，所以把手机关机了。` (Tā shēngqì le, suǒyǐ bǎ shǒujī guānjī le.) - He got angry, so he turned off his phone. (The phone isn't `没电`).
• `没电` vs. `坏了` (huàile)
  • `没电` is a temporary problem that can be solved by charging.
  • `坏了` (huàile) means “broken.” It implies the device is damaged and needs to be repaired or replaced.
  • If you charge your phone and it still doesn't turn on, you would say: `我的手机坏了。` (Wǒ de shǒujī huàile.)

• 充电 (chōngdiàn) - The solution to `没电`; “to charge” a battery.
• 充电宝 (chōngdiànbǎo) - A power bank or portable charger, an essential item for avoiding `没电`.
• 充电器 (chōngdiànqì) - A charger (the cable and plug).
• 电池 (diànchí) - Battery.
• 停电 (tíngdiàn) - A power outage; the event that causes a building to be `没电`.
• 插座 (chāzuò) - A power socket or outlet.
• 关机 (guānjī) - Antonym of `开机`; to turn off a device.
• 开机 (kāijī) - Antonym of `关机`; to turn on a device.
• 耗电 (hàodiàn) - To consume electricity. Used to describe an app or device that drains the battery quickly (e.g., `这个游戏很耗电` - This game really drains the battery).
• 省电 (shěngdiàn) - To save electricity; the opposite of `耗电`. (e.g., `省电模式` - power-saving mode).