gongdian: 供电 - To Supply Electricity, Power Supply

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• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 供电 (gōngdiàn), which means “to supply electricity” or “power supply.” This practical word is fundamental for navigating daily life in China, from understanding utility bills and power outages (停电) to discussing the country's massive infrastructure and energy grid. This page breaks down the characters, cultural significance, and practical usage of gōngdiàn, helping you master a word that literally powers modern China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gōngdiàn
• Part of Speech: Verb; Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To supply electrical power; the supply of electricity.
• In a Nutshell: 供电 (gōngdiàn) is a straightforward and highly practical term that refers to the action of providing electricity, or the power supply itself. It's what the power company does. Think of it as the “delivery” of electricity to homes, businesses, and cities. It's a neutral, functional word you'll encounter in contexts related to housing, infrastructure, news, and technology.

• 供 (gōng): This character means “to supply,” “to provide,” or “to offer.” It's composed of a person radical (亻) and 共 (gòng), which can mean “together” or “common.” You can think of it as a person providing something for the common good.
• 电 (diàn): This character means “electricity.” The traditional form (電) shows a lightning bolt (申) under a rain cloud (雨), vividly picturing the origin of our understanding of electricity from nature.
• The two characters combine literally and logically: 供 (to supply) + 电 (electricity) = 供电 (to supply electricity).

While 供电 (gōngdiàn) is a technical term, its cultural significance in modern China is immense. A stable and widespread power supply is a powerful symbol of China's rapid development and modernization over the past few decades. For many Chinese people, especially older generations, the memory of frequent power outages and limited electricity access is still fresh. Therefore, the concept of reliable 供电 isn't just a convenience taken for granted, as it often is in the West. Instead, it's seen as a tangible achievement and a cornerstone of national strength and progress. News about massive infrastructure projects like the Three Gorges Dam (三峡大坝 sānxiá dàbà) or the expansion of the national power grid (电网 diànwǎng) are sources of national pride, as they directly relate to the country's ability to 供电 its vast population and booming industries. Unlike a Westerner who might only think about their power company during an outage, the active, ongoing process of 供电 is more present in the public consciousness in China as a marker of the nation's success.

You will encounter 供电 in many everyday and formal situations. It functions both as a verb (to supply power) and a noun (power supply).

• As a Verb: It describes the action of a power source or company providing electricity.
  • e.g., “这个水电站为整个城市供电。” (This hydroelectric station supplies power to the whole city.)
• As a Noun (or noun-attribute): It's often used to describe systems, companies, or states related to power supply.
  • 供电公司 (gōngdiàn gōngsī) - Power supply company
  • 供电系统 (gōngdiàn xìtǒng) - Power supply system
  • 供电中断 (gōngdiàn zhōngduàn) - Power supply interruption
  • 供电稳定 (gōngdiàn wěndìng) - Stable power supply
• In Conversation: You'll use it when discussing utility bills (电费), planned power cuts for maintenance, or problems with your electricity.

• Example 1:
  • 我们小区明天会暂停供电四个小时。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xiǎoqū míngtiān huì zàntíng gōngdiàn sì ge xiǎoshí.
  • English: Our residential community will suspend the power supply for four hours tomorrow.
  • Analysis: This is a common announcement you might see. Here, 供电 is used as a noun meaning “power supply.” The verb is 暂停 (zàntíng), to suspend.
• Example 2:
  • 这台备用发电机可以为整个大楼供电。
  • Pinyin: Zhè tái bèiyòng fādiànjī kěyǐ wèi zhěnggè dàlóu gōngdiàn.
  • English: This backup generator can supply electricity to the entire building.
  • Analysis: Here, 供电 is used as a verb. The sentence structure is “为 [object] 供电” (wèi… gōngdiàn), meaning “to supply power for [object]”.
• Example 3:
  • 台风过后，供电部门正在紧急抢修线路。
  • Pinyin: Táifēng guòhòu, gōngdiàn bùmén zhèngzài jǐnjí qiǎngxiū xiànlù.
  • English: After the typhoon, the power supply department is urgently repairing the lines.
  • Analysis: 供电部门 (gōngdiàn bùmén) is a common way to refer to the “power department” or “utility company.”
• Example 4:
  • 由于设备老化，这里的供电一直不稳定。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú shèbèi lǎohuà, zhèlǐ de gōngdiàn yīzhí bù wěndìng.
  • English: Due to aging equipment, the power supply here has been consistently unstable.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 供电 as a noun to describe the state of the power supply (unstable).
• Example 5:
  • 核电站能为数百万家庭供电。
  • Pinyin: Hédiànzhàn néng wèi shù bǎi wàn jiātíng gōngdiàn.
  • English: A nuclear power plant can supply electricity to millions of households.
  • Analysis: Another example of 供电 as a verb, showing its use in a large-scale, formal context.
• Example 6:
  • 你需要联系供电公司来开通你新家的电。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào liánxì gōngdiàn gōngsī lái kāitōng nǐ xīnjiā de diàn.
  • English: You need to contact the power supply company to get the electricity turned on in your new home.
  • Analysis: 供电公司 (gōngdiàn gōngsī) is the specific term for the power company/utility provider.
• Example 7:
  • 太阳能电池板在白天供电，晚上则使用储存的电能。
  • Pinyin: Tàiyángnéng diànchíbǎn zài báitiān gōngdiàn, wǎnshang zé shǐyòng chǔcún de diànnéng.
  • English: The solar panels supply power during the day, and use stored energy at night.
  • Analysis: This shows 供电 being used in a technological context related to renewable energy.
• Example 8:
  • 这个偏远的山村终于实现了24小时供电。
  • Pinyin: Zhège piānyuǎn de shāncūn zhōngyú shíxiàn le èrshísì xiǎoshí gōngdiàn.
  • English: This remote mountain village has finally achieved 24-hour power supply.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the cultural significance of 供电 as a marker of development and progress.
• Example 9:
  • 工厂的正常生产离不开稳定的供电。
  • Pinyin: Gōngchǎng de zhèngcháng shēngchǎn líbukāi wěndìng de gōngdiàn.
  • English: The factory's normal production cannot do without a stable power supply.
  • Analysis: A business context showing the critical importance of 供电 for industry. “稳定的供电” (wěndìng de gōngdiàn) is a very common and important collocation.
• Example 10:
  • 如果供电中断，请不要使用电梯。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ gōngdiàn zhōngduàn, qǐng búyào shǐyòng diàntī.
  • English: If the power supply is interrupted, please do not use the elevator.
  • Analysis: A practical safety warning where 供电 is the subject of the clause.

The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing the “supplier” perspective of 供电 with the “consumer” perspective.

• 供电 (gōngdiàn) vs. 用电 (yòngdiàn): This is a critical distinction.
  • 供电 (gōngdiàn) means to supply power. It's what the power company does.
  • 用电 (yòngdiàn) means to use power. It's what you, the consumer, do.
  • Incorrect Usage: 我家上个月供电很多，电费很高。 (Wǒjiā shàng gè yuè gōngdiàn hěn duō, diànfèi hěn gāo.)
    • This literally means “My family supplied a lot of electricity last month…” which is incorrect unless your family owns a power plant.
  • Correct Usage: 我家上个月用电很多，电费很高。 (Wǒjiā shàng gè yuè yòngdiàn hěn duō, diànfèi hěn gāo.)
    • This means “My family used a lot of electricity last month, so the electricity bill is very high.”
• 供电 (gōngdiàn) vs. 电力 (diànlì):
  • 电力 (diànlì) refers to “electric power” as an abstract concept or a resource. It's the “what.”
  • 供电 (gōngdiàn) refers to the action or system of “supplying electric power.” It's the “how” or the “delivery.”
    • Example: 中国的电力资源很丰富。(Zhōngguó de diànlì zīyuán hěn fēngfù.) - China's electric power resources are abundant. (Here, you wouldn't use 供电).
    • Example: 这个城市的供电系统很先进。(Zhège chéngshì de gōngdiàn xìtǒng hěn xiānjìn.) - This city's power supply system is very advanced. (Here, you wouldn't use 电力).

• 停电 (tíngdiàn) - The direct antonym: power outage, to cut off power.
• 用电 (yòngdiàn) - The consumer's side: to use electricity.
• 发电 (fādiàn) - The source: to generate electricity (e.g., at a power plant).
• 电力 (diànlì) - The resource itself: electric power.
• 电费 (diànfèi) - The cost: electricity bill/fee.
• 供电局 (gōngdiànjú) - The organization: Power Supply Bureau, a common term for the utility company.
• 电网 (diànwǎng) - The infrastructure: the power grid.
• 电压 (diànyā) - A technical property: voltage.
• 能源 (néngyuán) - The broader category: energy; energy source.
• 水电 (shuǐdiàn) - A specific type: hydropower, or shorthand for “water and electricity” utilities.