chāzuò: 插座 - Socket, Outlet

• Keywords: chazuo, 插座, Chinese electrical outlet, Chinese socket, power socket in China, wall outlet, power point, plug socket, electrical receptacle, charging phone in China
• Summary: Discover the essential Chinese word for an electrical socket or outlet: 插座 (chāzuò). This comprehensive guide explains its meaning, character origins, and crucial cultural context for anyone traveling or living in China. Learn how to ask for a 插座 to charge your devices, understand the different types of sockets you'll encounter, and avoid common mistakes like confusing it with a plug (插头, chātóu).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chāzuò
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: An electrical socket or outlet for inserting a plug.
• In a Nutshell: 插座 (chāzuò) is a highly practical and literal word. It refers to the power outlet you find in a wall, on a power strip, or in a train, where you plug in your electronics to get electricity. Think of it as the “seat” (座) where you “insert” (插) your plug. It's one of the first words you'll need when your phone battery is running low in China.

• 插 (chā): This character means “to insert” or “to stick in.” The radical on the left, 扌, is the “hand” radical, indicating an action performed with the hand. The right side, 臿, provides the phonetic sound and originally depicted a tool for grinding or pounding, implying an insertion action.
• 座 (zuò): This character means “seat,” “base,” or “stand.” It's composed of 坐 (zuò - to sit) under the “shelter” radical 广. It signifies a designated place or holder for something.
• When combined, 插座 (chāzuò) literally means an “insertion seat” — a perfect and intuitive description for a device designed to receive a plug.

While a “socket” might seem purely functional, the typical 插座 in China has a unique cultural and practical significance reflecting the country's position as a global hub. Unlike in the US or UK where outlets are strictly designed for one plug type, most modern wall sockets in China are combination or “universal” sockets. They are ingeniously designed to accept multiple plug types, including the flat two-pronged American/Japanese plug (Type A), the round two-pronged European plug (Type C), and the angled three-pronged Australian/Chinese plug (Type I). This design contrasts sharply with the rigid single-standard approach in many Western countries. It reflects a practical flexibility, catering to a vast domestic market with diverse products and a constant flow of international visitors and business people. For a learner, this means you often won't need a travel adapter for your two-pronged devices in China, though it's always wise to bring one for three-pronged plugs. Additionally, it's important to remember that the standard voltage in China is 220V at 50Hz. This is a critical piece of information for anyone using a Chinese 插座, as plugging a 110V-only device from North America can destroy it.

The word 插座 (chāzuò) is used constantly in daily life, from homes and offices to public spaces.

• In Cafés and Public Spaces: It's common to look for a seat near a 插座 in a café or airport. Many newer trains and buses are also equipped with them. You'll often hear people ask:
  • `请问，这里有插座吗？` (Qǐngwèn, zhèlǐ yǒu chāzuò ma?) - “Excuse me, is there a socket here?”
• At Hotels: When checking into a hotel, you might want to confirm there's an outlet near the bed:
  • `床边有插座吗？` (Chuáng biān yǒu chāzuò ma?) - “Is there a socket by the bed?”
• Modern Variations: With the ubiquity of smartphones, outlets with built-in USB ports are becoming very common. These are called `USB插座` (USB chāzuò).

The term is neutral and used in both formal and informal contexts without any change in connotation.

• Example 1:
  • 我手机快没电了，得找个插座。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ shǒujī kuài méi diàn le, děi zhǎo ge chāzuò.
  • English: My phone is almost out of battery, I have to find a socket.
  • Analysis: A very common and natural sentence you'll use or hear frequently. `没电了 (méi diàn le)` is the standard way to say “out of battery.”
• Example 2:
  • 劳驾，请问那个座位旁边有插座吗？
  • Pinyin: Láojià, qǐngwèn nàge zuòwèi pángbiān yǒu chāzuò ma?
  • English: Excuse me, is there a socket next to that seat?
  • Analysis: `劳驾 (láojià)` is a polite way to get someone's attention, similar to “excuse me for bothering you.” This is a perfect sentence for a café or waiting room.
• Example 3:
  • 这个插座好像坏了，我的电脑充不进电。
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge chāzuò hǎoxiàng huài le, wǒ de diànnǎo chōng bu jìn diàn.
  • English: This socket seems to be broken, my computer isn't charging.
  • Analysis: `充不进电 (chōng bu jìn diàn)` is a resultative complement phrase meaning “cannot charge successfully.” It's a useful pattern for describing problems.
• Example 4:
  • 你把充电器插在床头的那个插座里吧。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bǎ chōngdiànqì chā zài chuángtóu de nàge chāzuò lǐ ba.
  • English: Go ahead and plug the charger into that socket by the head of the bed.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the `把 (bǎ)` construction to emphasize the action of plugging the charger (the object) into the socket.
• Example 5:
  • 新装修的房子里，每个房间都安装了好几个插座。
  • Pinyin: Xīn zhuāngxiū de fángzi lǐ, měi ge fángjiān dōu ānzhuāng le hǎo jǐ ge chāzuò.
  • English: In the newly renovated house, several sockets were installed in every room.
  • Analysis: `安装 (ānzhuāng)` is the verb for “to install.” `好几个 (hǎo jǐ ge)` means “several” or “quite a few.”
• Example 6:
  • 这家咖啡店很方便，桌子下面就有带USB接口的插座。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā kāfēidiàn hěn fāngbiàn, zhuōzi xiàmiàn jiù yǒu dài USB jiēkǒu de chāzuò.
  • English: This coffee shop is very convenient; there are sockets with USB ports right under the tables.
  • Analysis: `带…的 (dài…de)` means “with…” or “that has…”. `接口 (jiēkǒu)` means “port” or “interface.”
• Example 7:
  • 如果插座不够用，我们可以买一个插排。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ chāzuò bú gòu yòng, wǒmen kěyǐ mǎi yí ge chāpái.
  • English: If there aren't enough sockets, we can buy a power strip.
  • Analysis: This introduces the related term `插排 (chāpái)`, a power strip. `不够用 (bú gòu yòng)` means “not enough to use.”
• Example 8:
  • 检查一下，你确定插头完全插进插座了吗？
  • Pinyin: Jiǎnchá yíxià, nǐ quèdìng chātóu wánquán chā jìn chāzuò le ma?
  • English: Check it, are you sure the plug is fully inserted into the socket?
  • Analysis: This sentence clearly distinguishes between the plug `插头 (chātóu)` and the socket `插座 (chāzuò)`.
• Example 9:
  • 为了安全，儿童房的插座都安装了保护盖。
  • Pinyin: Wèile ānquán, értóngfáng de chāzuò dōu ānzhuāng le bǎohù gài.
  • English: For safety, the sockets in the children's room are all fitted with protective covers.
  • Analysis: A practical example showing a compound noun `儿童房 (értóngfáng)` (children's room) and the concept of `保护盖 (bǎohù gài)` (protective cover).
• Example 10:
  • 中国的电压是220伏，使用插座前请确认你的电器是否兼容。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó de diànyā shì 220 fú, shǐyòng chāzuò qián qǐng quèrèn nǐ de diànqì shìfǒu jiānróng.
  • English: The voltage in China is 220V; before using a socket, please confirm if your electronic device is compatible.
  • Analysis: An essential warning for travelers. `电压 (diànyā)` is “voltage” and `兼容 (jiānróng)` means “compatible.”

• 插座 (chāzuò) vs. 插头 (chātóu): This is the most critical mistake for beginners.
  • 插座 (chāzuò): The socket/outlet in the wall. The “female” part that receives.
  • 插头 (chātóu): The plug at the end of a cord. The “male” part that inserts.
  • Incorrect: `请问，这里有插头吗？` (Qǐngwèn, zhèlǐ yǒu chātóu ma?) - This means “Excuse me, is there a plug here?” A local would be confused, thinking you're looking for a spare plug to borrow.
  • Correct: `请问，这里有插座吗？` (Qǐngwèn, zhèlǐ yǒu chāzuò ma?) - “Excuse me, is there a socket here?”
• Voltage (电压 - diànyā): This is less a language mistake and more a critical practical one. Do not plug a device rated only for 110V (like some from the US) into a Chinese 220V 插座 without a voltage converter. Most modern electronics like laptops and phone chargers are dual-voltage (100-240V), but always check the fine print on your device first.

• `插头 (chātóu)` - Plug; the part at the end of the cord that you insert into the socket.
• `充电器 (chōngdiànqì)` - Charger; the device (often a small brick) used to charge electronics.
• `充电 (chōngdiàn)` - (verb) To charge (a battery). Literally “to fill with electricity.”
• `没电了 (méi diàn le)` - Out of battery/power; the most common reason to look for a 插座.
• `插排 (chāpái)` - Power strip / Extension board; a board with multiple sockets.
• `转换插头 (zhuǎnhuàn chātóu)` - Travel adapter / Plug converter; used to make a foreign plug fit a local socket.
• `电源 (diànyuán)` - Power source; can refer to the main power supply or a power button.
• `电压 (diànyā)` - Voltage; an important technical specification (220V in China).
• `开关 (kāiguān)` - Switch; many sockets in China have their own individual on/off switch right next to them.
• `电 (diàn)` - Electricity; the fundamental concept.