Chinese word

保险丝

Pronunciation

Pinyinbǎo xiǎn sī

Meaning

  • nounfuse

Example

车上的保险丝烧断了，灯不亮了。chē shàng de báo xiǎn sī shāo duàn le dēng bú liàng le

The fuse in the car blew, so the lights don't work.

Illustration for 保险丝 (fuse)

More examples

过电流时，保险丝会先熔断，保护电路。guò diàn liú shí báo xiǎn sī huì xiān róng duàn bǎo hù diàn lù

When there is too much current, the fuse blows first to protect the circuit.

Core concept

A sacrificial metal link that breaks the flow of electricity when a circuit is overloaded, protecting the equipment beyond it.

Common phrases

  • 烧断保险丝shāo duàn báo xiǎn sī

    blow a fuse

  • 换保险丝huàn báo xiǎn sī

    replace a fuse

  • 备用保险丝bèi yòng báo xiǎn sī

    spare fuse

  • 检查保险丝jiǎn chá báo xiǎn sī

    check a fuse

Similar words

保险管báo xián guǎn: A tubular fuse that melts during an overload and cuts off electricity to protect a circuit.
熔断器róng duàn qì: A safety device whose internal part melts from excess current and disconnects the circuit.
断路器duàn lù qì: A safety device that senses excess current or a fault and mechanically disconnects the circuit.

Definition in Chinese

在电路中通过一段细金属丝在电流过大时熔断来切断电路，从而保护电器或线路不受损坏的元件。zài diàn lù zhōng tōng guò yí duàn xì jīn shǔ sī zài diàn liú guò dà shí róng duàn lái qiē duàn diàn lù cóng ér bǎo hù diàn qì huò xiàn lù bú shòu sǔn huài de yuán jiàn

Word origin

The compound 保险丝 (bǎoxiǎnsī, "fuse") joins the idea of protection in 保险 (bǎoxiǎn, "protection") to the fine strand meant by 丝 (sī, "thread").

Usage tips

  • For everyday Chinese, this noun is useful when describing a small repair because it identifies the failed part rather than only describing the result, such as a light or appliance no longer working.

Related words

  • 保险丝盒báo xiǎn sī héfuse boxnoun
  • 备用保险丝bèi yòng báo xiǎn sīspare fusenoun
  • 汽车保险丝qì chē báo xiǎn sīcar fusenoun

Word lists with this word