Chinese word

电视

Pronunciation

Pinyindiàn shì

Meaning

  • nountelevision

Example

晚上我们一起看电视。wǎn shàng wǒ men yì qǐ kàn diàn shì

In the evening, we watch television together.

Illustration for 电视 (television)

More examples

我家有一台电视。wǒ jiā yǒu yì tái diàn shì

There is a television in my home.

Core concept

A powered screen-and-speaker system that brings moving pictures and sound to viewers, along with the programs it carries.

Common phrases

  • 看电视kàn diàn shì

    watch television

  • 晚上看电视wǎn shàng kàn diàn shì

    watch television at night

  • 在家看电视zài jiā kàn diàn shì

    watch television at home

Similar words

电视节目diàn shì jié mù: A single program or its content broadcast on television.
电视台diàn shì tái: A broadcasting station or company that produces and broadcasts television programs.
电视机diàn shì jī: A television set with a screen and speakers that displays pictures and produces sound.

Definition in Chinese

用电的设备，用来接收并播放影像和声音，也指通过这种方式传送的节目或广播。yòng diàn de shè bèi yòng lái jiē shōu bìng bō fàng yǐng xiàng hé shēng yīn yě zhǐ tōng guò zhè zhǒng fāng shì chuán sòng de jié mù huò guǎng bō

Word origin

电视 (diànshì, "television") combines 电 (diàn, "electricity") with 视 (shì, "to see"), naming a system that uses electrical technology to bring visual material to viewers.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may hear "television" as either the device or the medium, and Chinese allows this noun the same broad flexibility, with context showing which sense is intended.

Other meanings

  • television programnoun
  • television broadcastnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word