电力

• Pinyin: diàn lì
• Hanzi breakdown: 电 = lightning/electricity radical; 力 = pictograph of a muscle or plow, representing strength

Meaning

Electric power; electricity supply. Refers to electrical energy as a resource or utility, often in industrial, infrastructure, or policy contexts.

Used more formally than 电 alone when discussing power generation, grid systems, or energy policy. Common in news reports about power shortages, renewable energy initiatives, or industrial capacity. The related term 电力公司 means power company or electric utility.

Examples

1. 去年夏天用电高峰期，有些省份出现了电力短缺的情况。 During last summer's peak electricity usage, some provinces experienced power shortages.
2. 这座水电站每年能为三百万户家庭提供清洁电力。 This hydroelectric plant can provide clean electricity to three million households every year.
3. 电力系统的稳定运行直接关系到经济发展和民生保障。 The stable operation of the power system is directly related to economic development and people's livelihood.

Usage Guide

Context: energy, industry, news, infrastructure

Tone: technical

Do Say

• 农村地区的电力供应这几年改善了很多。(Electricity supply in rural areas has improved a lot in recent years.)
• 电力部门正在检修线路，预计明天恢复供电。(The power department is repairing the lines and expects to restore power tomorrow.)

Don't Say

• 在日常口语中用电力代替电 (In casual speech, don't use 电力 when 电 suffices — e.g., say 没电了 not 没电力了 for 'the power's out')

Origin & History

Compound of 电 (electricity) + 力 (power, force). A formal term that emerged with the industrialization of China's power grid.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal