diàn lì
electricity; electric power
我国的电力工业发展迅速。
Wǒguó de diànlì gōngyè fāzhǎn xùnsù.
China's electric power industry is developing rapidly.
电力是现代社会发展的重要能源。
Diànlì shì xiàndài shèhuì fāzhǎn de zhòngyào néngyuán.
Electricity is an important energy source for the development of modern society.
我们应该节约电力，保护环境。
Wǒmen yīnggāi jiéyuē diànlì, bǎohù huánjìng.
We should save electricity to protect the environment.
电能 (diànnéng)
electric energy
电 (diàn)
electricity
黑暗 (hēi àn)
darkness
无电 (wú diàn)
no electricity
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The Chinese word 电力 (diànlì) for "electricity" is composed of two characters: 电 (diàn) and 力 (lì). The character 电 originally meant "lightning" and was later extended to mean "electricity". The character 力 means "strength" or "power". Together, 电力 literally means "the power of lightning" or "electric power". This term was coined in the late 19th century when Western electrical technology was introduced to China.
