電気

• Reading: でんき
• Romaji: denki
• Kanji breakdown: 電 (den) — electricity, lightning; 気 (ki/ke) — spirit, energy, air
• Pronunciation: /de.ɴ.ki/

Meaning

Electricity; electric light. Refers to both electrical power and room lighting.

In daily conversation, 電気 most often means 'the light(s)' rather than electricity as a concept: 電気をつける (turn on the light), 電気を消す (turn off the light). For the scientific concept, it also means electrical power: 電気代 (denkidai — electricity bill), 電気製品 (denki seihin — electrical appliance). Related: 電気屋 (denkiya — electronics shop).

Examples

1. 部屋の電気をつけてください。 Please turn on the light in the room.
2. 寝る前に電気を消します。 I turn off the light before going to sleep.
3. 今月は電気代が高かったです。 The electricity bill was expensive this month.

Usage Guide

Context: home, daily life, utilities

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 電 (electricity/lightning) and 気 (spirit/energy/air), literally 'electric energy.' Created as a translation term when electrical technology was introduced to Japan in the Meiji era.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal