Chinese word

断电

Pronunciation

Pinyinduàn diàn

Meaning

  • verblose power

Example

今晚可能会断电，请备好手电筒。jīn wǎn kě néng huì duàn diàn qǐng bèi hǎo shǒu diàn tǒng

The power may go out tonight, so please have a flashlight ready.

Illustration for 断电 (lose power)

More examples

昨晚小区断电了，电梯也停了。zuó wǎn xiǎo qū duàn diàn le diàn tī yě tíng le

The residential community lost power last night, and the elevator stopped too.

Core concept

A working flow of electricity is stopped, leaving a home, building, or area without power.

Common phrases

  • 断电了duàn diàn le

    Power went out

  • 突然断电tū rán duàn diàn

    suddenly lose power

  • 长时间断电cháng shí jiān duàn diàn

    lose power for a long time

Similar words

停电tíng diàn: Stop receiving electricity because the power supply has been interrupted.
跳闸tiào zhá: Stop receiving electricity after an electrical breaker switches off for safety.
没电méi diàn: Have no power left for a device or place because its source or stored energy is used up.

Definition in Chinese

电源被切断，使建筑或区域暂时没有电力供应。diàn yuán bèi qiē duàn shǐ jiàn zhù huò qū yù zàn shí méi yǒu diàn lì gōng yìng

Word origin

断 (duàn, "cut off") + 电 (diàn, "electricity") literally describes electricity being cut off from its supply.

Usage tips

  • The same Chinese verb can describe either the supply being stopped or a household experiencing the result, while English usually chooses different wording according to the subject.

Other meanings

  • power outagenoun
  • cut off powerverb

Opposites

  • 供电gōng diànsupply powerverb
  • 通电tōng diànturn on the powerverb

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