停電

• Reading: ていでん
• Romaji: teiden
• Kanji breakdown: 停 (tei) — stop, halt; 電 (den) — electricity, lightning
• Pronunciation: /teː.deɴ/

Meaning

Power outage; blackout; failure of electricity.

A noun that also functions as a suru verb (停電する, to lose power). Describes the state of electricity being cut off, whether from natural disasters, equipment failure, or planned maintenance. Common phrases: 停電になる (the power goes out), 停電が起きる (a blackout occurs), 計画停電 (planned power outage). Frequently appears in weather and disaster-related news.

Examples

1. 台風で三日間停電した。 The power was out for three days because of the typhoon.
2. 停電になったのでろうそくを使った。 The power went out, so we used candles.
3. 地震の後、広い地域で停電が起きた。 After the earthquake, there were blackouts across a wide area.

Usage Guide

Context: disasters, weather, daily life

Tone: urgent

Origin & History

Compound of 停 (tei, to stop/halt) and 電 (den, electricity). Together, 'electricity stopping' — a straightforward description of power failure.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal