Japanese word

電線

Pronunciation

Romajidensen

Meaning

  • nounelectric wire

Example

電線に鳥が止まっています。den sen ni tori ga to ma tte i ma su

A bird is sitting on the electric wire.

Illustration for 電線 (electric wire)

More examples

強い風で電線が切れました。tsuyo i kaze de den sen ga ki re ma shi ta

The electric wire broke in the strong wind.

Core concept

Refers to a metal line used to carry electricity between connected points.

Common phrases

  • 電線が切れるden sen ga ki re ru

    an electric wire breaks

  • 電線を切るden sen o ki ru

    cut an electric wire

  • 電線を交換するden sen o kō kan su ru

    replace an electric wire

Similar words

ケーブルkēburu: A covered conductor used to transmit electricity, often with several wires inside.
導線dōsen: A conducting wire that forms a path for current in a circuit.
コードkōdo: A flexible insulated wire for connecting an electrical device to a power source.

Definition in Japanese

電流を通すために用いる金属の線。den ryū o tō su ta me ni mochi i ru kin zoku no sen

Word origin

電線 (densen) is formed from 電 (den, "electricity") and 線 (sen, "line"), giving the compound its literal sense of an electricity line.

Usage tips

  • English uses electric cable more often when the conductor has protective covering or contains several wires, while electric wire can name a single wire.

Other meanings

  • electric cablenoun
  • power linenoun

Word lists with this word