Chinese word

电表

Pronunciation

Pinyindiàn biǎo

Meaning

  • nounelectric meter

Example

我们要换掉家里的电表。wǒ men yào huàn diào jiā lǐ de diàn biǎo

We need to replace the electric meter in our home.

Illustration for 电表 (electric meter)

More examples

邻居发现电表读数比上个月多。lín jū fā xiàn diàn biǎo dú shù bǐ shàng gè yuè duō

The neighbor noticed that the electric meter reading was higher than last month.

Core concept

A utility meter that makes ongoing electricity consumption visible as a numerical reading.

Common phrases

  • 抄电表chāo diàn biǎo

    read the electric meter

  • 家里的电表jiā lǐ de diàn biǎo

    home electric meter

  • 坏掉的电表huài diào de diàn biǎo

    broken electric meter

Similar words

电能表diàn néng biǎo: A meter for measuring the amount of electrical energy used, usually in kilowatt-hours.
水表shuí biǎo: A meter for measuring the amount of water used, usually in cubic meters.
燃气表rán qì biǎo: A meter for measuring the amount of gas used, usually in cubic meters.

Definition in Chinese

记录并以千瓦时等单位显示电能消耗的计量装置，常用于家庭或商业场所的电费结算。jì lù bìng yǐ qiān wǎ shí děng dān wèi xiǎn shì diàn néng xiāo hào de jì liàng zhuāng zhì cháng yòng yú jiā tíng huò shāng yè cháng suǒ de diàn fèi jié suàn

Word origin

电 (diàn, "electricity") + 表 (biǎo, "meter") forms the name for a device that measures and displays electricity use.

Usage tips

  • Readings from this device are commonly expressed in 千瓦时 (qiānwǎshí, "kilowatt-hours"), which measure energy used rather than the instant strength of an electrical current.

Related words

  • 电度表diàn dù biǎoelectricity meternoun

Word lists with this word