diànyuán: 电源 - Power Source, Power Supply

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.

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.

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.”

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.”

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 diànyuánjiàn 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 diànyuánxiàn 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.