没电了。
Mei dian le.
Out of battery.
Literally: Not have electricity (completion particle).
In 15 Seconds
- Used when any electronic device runs out of power.
- Literally translates to 'no electricity anymore'.
- Can metaphorically mean 'I am exhausted' or 'burned out'.
Meaning
This is the universal way to say your device is dead. It literally means 'no electricity anymore' and is used for phones, laptops, or even your own energy levels.
Key Examples
3 of 6At a restaurant with friends
我的手机没电了。
My phone is out of battery.
In a work meeting
电脑没电了，我得去拿充电器。
My laptop is dead, I need to get my charger.
Texting before the phone dies
手机快没电了，回聊！
Phone's almost dead, talk later!
Cultural Background
In China's cashless society, 'méi diàn le' is a genuine emergency because you can't pay for anything without your phone. This has led to the massive popularity of shared power bank rentals in almost every public space. The phrase has also evolved into internet slang for being socially or physically exhausted.
The 'Le' is Key
Don't forget the 'le' at the end. It signals that the battery *became* empty. Without it, it sounds like a permanent state.
Not for Cars
If your gas car stops, don't say this! Use 'méi yóu le' (out of oil). Only use 'méi diàn le' for Teslas or electric vehicles.
In 15 Seconds
- Used when any electronic device runs out of power.
- Literally translates to 'no electricity anymore'.
- Can metaphorically mean 'I am exhausted' or 'burned out'.
What It Means
没电了 (méi diàn le) is your go-to survival phrase in the digital age. It tells people your device has run out of juice. The 没 means 'not have'. The 电 means 'electricity'. The 了 at the end signals a change of state. It means you had power before, but now you don't. It is simple, direct, and incredibly common.
How To Use It
Use it as a standalone sentence or after a noun. If your phone dies, just point at it and say 手机没电了. If you are in a taxi and your phone is dying, tell the driver 没电了. You don't need fancy grammar here. It works like a charm in almost any sentence structure. You can also use it for electric bikes or cars.
When To Use It
You will use this constantly in daily life. Use it when your phone hits 1% at a restaurant. Use it when your laptop dies during a coffee shop study session. It is perfect for explaining why you didn't reply to a text. It is also a great 'exit strategy' for awkward phone calls. Just say 手机快没电了 (My phone is about to die) and hang up!
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this for things that don't use electricity. If your car runs out of gas, use 没油了 instead. Also, avoid using it in extremely formal speeches. In a high-stakes board meeting, you might say something more precise. However, even then, people will understand you perfectly. It is rarely 'wrong', just very casual.
Cultural Background
China is a mobile-first society. Everything happens on your phone—paying, eating, and traveling. Because of this, 没电了 is a high-stress phrase! You will see 'Power Bank' (充电宝) stations everywhere in Chinese malls. This phrase is the reason those businesses exist. It is the modern equivalent of saying 'I am lost'.
Common Variations
You can add 快 (kuài) to say 'almost out of battery'. Say 快没电了 when you see that red battery bar. If you want to ask for a charger, follow it with 有充电器吗?. You can also use it metaphorically. If you are exhausted after work, say 我没电了. It tells your friends you have zero social energy left.
Usage Notes
The phrase is neutral and safe for almost any context. Just remember to use 'méi yóu le' for gasoline engines and 'tíng diàn le' for building-wide power cuts.
The 'Le' is Key
Don't forget the 'le' at the end. It signals that the battery *became* empty. Without it, it sounds like a permanent state.
Not for Cars
If your gas car stops, don't say this! Use 'méi yóu le' (out of oil). Only use 'méi diàn le' for Teslas or electric vehicles.
Social Battery
Young people in China use this to describe their 'social battery'. If you want to leave a party, saying 'wǒ méi diàn le' is a relatable way to exit.
Examples
6我的手机没电了。
My phone is out of battery.
Standard way to announce your phone died.
电脑没电了，我得去拿充电器。
My laptop is dead, I need to get my charger.
Professional but direct.
手机快没电了，回聊！
Phone's almost dead, talk later!
Using 'kuài' to show it's happening soon.
加班太累了，我现在没电了。
Overtime was exhausting, I'm out of juice now.
Metaphorical use for human tiredness.
不好意思，我手机没电了，能借一下充电宝吗？
Sorry, my phone is dead, can I borrow a power bank?
Polite request in a minor emergency.
耳机没电了，真烦人。
Headphones are dead, so annoying.
Expressing frustration about a device.
Test Yourself
How do you say your laptop is out of battery?
我的电脑___。
‘没电了’ is the standard phrase for any electronic device.
How do you say your phone is 'almost' out of battery?
手机___没电了。
‘快’ (kuài) means 'soon' or 'almost' in this context.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality of '没电了'
Used for personal exhaustion.
我没电了 (I'm drained)
Standard daily usage for devices.
手机没电了
Slightly more descriptive.
设备电量耗尽
Where to use '没电了'
Coffee Shop
Laptop died while working
Taxi
Can't show the digital map
Gym
Bluetooth headphones stopped
Home
TV remote stopped working
Socializing
Too tired to keep talking
Practice Bank
2 exercises我的电脑___。
‘没电了’ is the standard phrase for any electronic device.
手机___没电了。
‘快’ (kuài) means 'soon' or 'almost' in this context.
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, any device that uses a battery or electricity can be described with 没电了.
Yes, it is a neutral statement of fact. You can say 我的电脑没电了 to your boss without being rude.
Use 手机快没电了 (My phone is almost out of battery) or 手机电量低 (Battery is low).
Say 没电了，有充电器吗？ (It's dead, do you have a charger?).
Yes! It's a common metaphor for being tired. 我没电了 means 'I'm exhausted'.
In technical manuals, you might see 电量不足 (insufficient power), but in speech, everyone says 没电了.
The 了 indicates a change. It means the battery was working, but now it isn't.
Usually, no. If a lightbulb is out, we say 灯坏了 (The light is broken) or 停电了 (The power is out in the building).
没电了 refers to a device's battery. 停电了 refers to a power outage in a building or neighborhood.
Yes, it is universally understood and used across all Mandarin-speaking regions.
Related Phrases
充电
To charge a battery
充电宝
Power bank / Portable charger
停电
Power outage / Blackout
没油了
Out of gas (for cars)
