When the lights go out suddenly, it's often because of a 停电 (tíng diàn). This word literally means "stop electricity."
You might hear someone say, "哎呀，停电了！" (Āiyā, tíng diàn le!) which means, "Oh no, there's a power outage!"
It's a very practical word to know, especially if you live somewhere with occasional power cuts.
So, if your computer suddenly shuts off, you can probably blame a 停电.
When the lights go out suddenly, or your computer shuts down because there's no power, that's a power outage. In Chinese, we say 停电 (tíng diàn). The first character, 停 (tíng), means to stop. The second character, 电 (diàn), means electricity. So, literally, it means "stopped electricity." It's a useful word to know for everyday situations, especially if you experience a blackout.
§ Using the Wrong Verb
Many learners, especially at the B2 level, know that Chinese verbs often need specific objects or can't be used alone. With 停电 (tíngdiàn), the most common mistake is trying to use it with verbs like 'have' or 'experience'. You don't 'have' a power outage (有停电) in Chinese. 停电 itself acts as the event.
§ Incorrectly Modifying the Noun
Sometimes learners try to modify 停电 with adjectives that don't quite fit. For instance, you wouldn't say 'a big power outage' (大停电) in the same way you might say 'a big problem'. While 'big' can sometimes work to emphasize intensity, it's not the most natural or common way to describe a power outage in Chinese. Instead, focus on duration or impact.
昨晚我们家停电了四个小时。(Last night, our house had a power outage for four hours.)
- DEFINITION
- Here, '四个小时' (four hours) describes the duration, which is more common and natural than using '大' (big).
§ Confusing 停电 with Power Failure
While similar, 停电 (tíngdiàn) specifically refers to an outage, a cut in the electricity supply. It's not typically used to describe a general malfunction or 'failure' of an electrical appliance or system that isn't a widespread cut. For a device breaking down, you'd use different vocabulary.
我们的冰箱坏了，不是停电。(Our refrigerator is broken, it's not a power outage.)
§ Using it as a Verb 'to stop electricity'
Remember, 停电 is a noun (power outage). While 停 (tíng) means 'to stop' and 电 (diàn) means 'electricity', you generally wouldn't break them apart to form a verb phrase like 'to stop electricity'. If you need to express that someone or something *caused* a power cut, you'd use a different structure or phrase.
- DEFINITION
- When referring to a planned power outage, you might hear things like 供电局通知要停电 (the power company notified that there will be a power outage), where 停电 is still the noun.
§ Overlooking Context for Implied Meaning
In Chinese, context is king. Sometimes, you might hear simply 停电了 (tíngdiàn le), and it's understood that it happened to the speaker's location. Don't always feel the need to explicitly state 'our house' or 'this area' if the context already makes it clear.
Incorrect: 我们的地方停电了。(Our place had a power outage.) - While not strictly 'wrong', it can be clunky.
Correct/Natural: 停电了，家里一片漆黑。(There's a power outage, it's pitch black at home.) - The 'at home' implies where the outage is.
How Formal Is It?
"市政府发布了停电通知，请市民提前做好准备。 (The city government issued a power outage notice, asking citizens to prepare in advance.)"
"昨晚突然停电了，家里一片漆黑。 (There was a sudden power outage last night, and the house was pitch black.)"
"糟了，没电了，手机也快没电了。 (Oh no, no power, and my phone's almost out of battery too.)"
"停电了，家里黑乎乎的，有点害怕。 (The power's out, it's dark in the house, a little scary.)"
"游戏正玩到关键时候，突然断电了，气死我了！ (I was right in the middle of a crucial part of the game when the power suddenly cut out, it made me so mad!)"
Fun Fact
While '停电' is primarily a noun, it can also function informally as a verb, meaning 'to have a power outage'.
Pronunciation Guide
- Students often mispronounce 'dian' with a 'j' sound instead of 'd'. Make sure to articulate the 'd' clearly.
Difficulty Rating
short
short
short
short
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Examples by Level
昨天晚上我们家停电了。
Our home had a power outage last night.
停电的时候，我们点燃了蜡烛。
When the power went out, we lit candles.
因为下雨，所以这里停电了。
Because of the rain, there was a power outage here.
停电让超市的冷藏柜都停止工作了。
The power outage made all the refrigerators in the supermarket stop working.
长时间的停电会影响我们的生活。
Long power outages will affect our lives.
我希望停电能快点结束。
I hope the power outage ends soon.
停电的时候，我的手机没电了。
My phone ran out of battery during the power outage.
你家有停电的经历吗？
Have you ever experienced a power outage at home?
昨晚突然停电了，家里一片漆黑。
Last night there was a sudden power outage, the house was completely dark.
突然 (sūrán) means 'suddenly'.
停电的时候，我们点燃了蜡烛。
During the power outage, we lit candles.
的时候 (de shíhòu) means 'when' or 'during the time of'.
因为暴风雨，整个城市都停电了。
Because of the storm, the entire city had a power outage.
因为 (yīnwèi) means 'because'.
我正在用电脑工作，结果停电了，文件没保存。
I was working on the computer, and then the power went out, I didn't save the document.
结果 (jiéguǒ) means 'as a result' or 'consequently'.
听说今天下午会有计划性停电。
I heard there will be a planned power outage this afternoon.
计划性 (jìhuàxìng) means 'planned'.
停电之后，冰箱里的食物可能会坏掉。
After the power outage, the food in the refrigerator might go bad.
之后 (zhīhòu) means 'after'.
请问停电多久才能恢复？
Excuse me, how long will it take for the power to be restored?
多久 (duōjiǔ) means 'how long'.
停电时，手机成了唯一的照明工具。
During the power outage, the mobile phone became the only lighting tool.
唯一的 (wéiyī de) means 'the only'.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
家里停电了。
The power is out at home.
昨晚停电了两个小时。
There was a power outage for two hours last night.
停电给我们带来了很多不便。
The power outage caused us a lot of inconvenience.
他们正在抢修停电。
They are rushing to repair the power outage.
停电时要注意安全。
Be careful during a power outage.
停电导致交通堵塞。
The power outage led to traffic jams.
我们收到了停电通知。
We received a power outage notice.
希望停电快点恢复。
Hope the power outage recovers soon.
停电的时候，我点起了蜡烛。
During the power outage, I lit candles.
这次停电影响了整个城市。
This power outage affected the whole city.
Often Confused With
More formal and technical term for 'power interruption', often used in official reports or news.
Refers to a circuit breaker tripping, which is a common cause of a localized power outage. This is a specific cause, whereas '停电' is the general effect.
Literally 'no electricity'. Can be used informally to mean there's no power, but '停电' is the formal and more common term for an outage. '没电' can also mean a device's battery is dead.
Easily Confused
Both "停电" and "断电" refer to a loss of electricity. The confusion often arises from when to use each term.
"停电" (tíngdiàn) is the most common and general term for a power outage, often implying a temporary, unplanned or planned interruption. "断电" (duàndiàn) often implies a more deliberate or permanent disconnection of power, such as when a utility company cuts power for non-payment, or when power is intentionally shut off for maintenance. It can also be used more broadly for any power cut, but "停电" is more natural for a general outage.
他因为没有交电费，所以家里被断电了。(Tā yīnwèi méiyǒu jiāo diànfèi, suǒyǐ jiālǐ bèi duàndiàn le.) - He didn't pay his electricity bill, so his power was cut off.
Structurally similar to "停电" (停 + utility), but refers to a different utility.
"停电" means a power outage, while "停水" (tíngshuǐ) means a water outage.
今天小区停水了，我们没法洗澡。(Jīntiān xiǎoqū tíngshuǐ le, wǒmen méi fǎ xǐzǎo.) - The community has a water outage today, so we can't take a shower.
Uses the same character "停" (tíng), meaning 'stop', leading to potential confusion with 'stop work' versus 'stop electricity'.
"停电" refers to a power outage. "停工" (tínggōng) means to stop work or cease production, often due to a strike, technical issues, or lack of materials.
工厂因为设备故障而停工了一天。(Gōngchǎng yīnwèi shèbèi gùzhàng ér tínggōng le yī tiān.) - The factory stopped work for a day due to equipment malfunction.
Both involve lights going out, but the cause and context are different.
"停电" is a power outage affecting all electrical appliances. "熄灯" (xīdēng) specifically means to turn off the lights, often intentionally, like at bedtime or for an event.
晚上十点宿舍熄灯。(Wǎnshang shí diǎn sùshè xīdēng.) - The dormitory lights are turned off at 10 PM.
"断开" means 'to disconnect' or 'to break open', which can be related to the idea of power being cut, but is a more general verb.
"停电" is a noun referring to the event of a power outage. "断开" (duànkāi) is a verb meaning to disconnect or break apart something. While power can be "断开" (disconnected), "停电" is the specific term for a power outage.
请把电源断开，然后再修理。(Qǐng bǎ diànyuán duànkāi, ránhòu zài xiūlǐ.) - Please disconnect the power supply before repairing.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
How to Use It
停电 (tíngdiàn) is a common noun used to describe a power outage or electricity cut. It literally means 'stop electricity'.
You can use 停电 in sentences like these:
- 昨晚我们家停电了。 (Zuó wǎn wǒmen jiā tíngdiàn le.)
Yesterday evening our home had a power outage. - 突然停电了，我什么都看不见。 (Tūrán tíngdiàn le, wǒ shénme dōu kàn bù jiàn.)
Suddenly there was a power outage, I can't see anything. - 为什么会停电？ (Wèishénme huì tíngdiàn?)
Why is there a power outage?
A common mistake is trying to use a verb like 'have' or 'experience' directly with 停电, as 停电 itself can often function as the event or state. For example, instead of thinking 'we had a power outage,' simply saying 'we power outages' (我们停电了) is often more natural.
Another mistake might be confusing 停电 with other terms related to electricity problems. While 停电 specifically refers to a complete loss of power, other terms might describe different issues, like a flickering light or a circuit breaker tripping. Stick to 停电 for a full power cut.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine a **ting** (stop) sound when the lights go out. The **diàn** (electricity) is gone. So, **停电** means 'stop electricity'.
Visual Association
Picture a city skyline at night, and suddenly all the lights go out, leaving the city in darkness. That's a **停电**.
Word Web
Challenge
Describe what you would do during a power outage using **停电**. For example: '如果停电了，我会点蜡烛。' (If there's a power outage, I will light candles.) Try to create 2-3 sentences.
Word Origin
Composed of 停 (tíng, 'to stop') and 电 (diàn, 'electricity').
Original meaning: The literal meaning is 'stopped electricity'.
Sino-Tibetan, Sinitic, Chinese.Cultural Context
When a 停电 occurs in China, it's common for people to light candles or use mobile phone flashlights. It can also be a prompt for people to socialize more, as electronic distractions are limited.
Test Yourself 54 questions
Choose the correct character for 'power' in 停电.
电 (diàn) means electricity or power.
Which character means 'stop' or 'halt' in 停电?
停 (tíng) means to stop.
If there is a 停电, what happens to the lights?
停电 (tíngdiàn) means power outage, so lights would turn off.
When there is a 停电, you can still use your computer if it's plugged in.
A 停电 means no electricity, so plugged-in devices will not work.
停电 means the lights are on.
停电 (tíngdiàn) means power outage, the opposite of lights being on.
If there is a 停电, it means there is no electricity.
停电 (tíngdiàn) directly translates to 'stop electricity', meaning no power.
Write a short sentence about what you do when there is a power outage at home. (停电 / 家 / 做什么)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
停电的时候，我在家看书。
Imagine you are telling a friend about a power outage yesterday. Write one sentence.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
昨天晚上停电了。
Write a sentence describing why someone might be unhappy about a power outage. (不高兴 / 停电)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我停电了，所以我不高兴。
为什么同学们很高兴？
Read this passage:
今天早上学校停电了。老师说今天没有课。同学们都很高兴，因为他们可以回家了。
为什么同学们很高兴？
The passage states that the students are happy because they can go home (同学们都很高兴，因为他们可以回家了。).
The passage states that the students are happy because they can go home (同学们都很高兴，因为他们可以回家了。).
小明为什么睡觉了？
Read this passage:
小明家昨天晚上停电了。他不能看电视，所以他去睡觉了。
小明为什么睡觉了？
The passage says he went to sleep because he couldn't watch TV (他不能看电视，所以他去睡觉了).
The passage says he went to sleep because he couldn't watch TV (他不能看电视，所以他去睡觉了).
大家为什么可以早点回家？
Read this passage:
办公室停电了。大家不能用电脑工作。老板说大家可以早点回家。
大家为什么可以早点回家？
The passage states that everyone can go home early because of the power outage (办公室停电了。老板说大家可以早点回家).
The passage states that everyone can go home early because of the power outage (办公室停电了。老板说大家可以早点回家).
昨晚突然___，家里一片漆黑。
The sentence describes darkness at home, which is caused by a 'power outage' (停电).
因为下雨，我们这里经常会___。
Heavy rain often causes 'power outages' (停电).
电梯因为___停了，我们只能走楼梯。
An elevator stops working due to a 'power outage' (停电).
今天早上城市发生了大范围的___。
A widespread 'power outage' (停电) happened in the city this morning.
___的时候，手机充电很不方便。
Charging a phone is difficult during a 'power outage' (停电).
我们正在开会，突然___了，电脑都关机了。
Computers shut down when there is a 'power outage' (停电) during a meeting.
Which word means 'power outage'?
停电 specifically refers to a power outage. 停水 is water stoppage, 停课 is class suspension, and 停工 is work stoppage.
The lights went out. This is a _______.
When lights go out, it means there is a power outage, which is 停电.
If there is no electricity, what is happening?
No electricity means there is a power outage, 停电.
When there is a 停电, you can still use your computer if it's plugged in.
停电 means there is no electricity, so plugged-in devices won't work.
If there is a 停电, the streetlights might also be off.
Streetlights also rely on electricity, so during a 停电, they would likely be off.
A 停电 always means it's raining outside.
A power outage (停电) can be caused by many things, not just rain.
Choose the correct character for 'power' in 停电 (tíngdiàn).
停 (tíng) means 'to stop', and 电 (diàn) means 'electricity'. So, 停电 (tíngdiàn) means power outage.
Which of these situations would you use 停电 (tíngdiàn)?
停电 (tíngdiàn) specifically refers to an electricity cut or power outage. When the lights go out because of a power issue, that's 停电.
If someone says '我家停电了' (Wǒ jiā tíngdiàn le), what are they telling you?
我家停电了 (Wǒ jiā tíngdiàn le) literally means 'My home power outage has happened', which translates to 'There's a power outage at my house' or 'My house has no electricity'.
If there is a 停电 (tíngdiàn), your phone will still charge normally.
停电 (tíngdiàn) means there is no electricity. Without electricity, you cannot charge your phone.
When there is a 停电 (tíngdiàn), you might need to use candles or a flashlight.
Since 停电 (tíngdiàn) means no electricity, electric lights won't work, so you would need other light sources like candles or flashlights.
You can still watch TV during a 停电 (tíngdiàn).
Most TVs require electricity to operate. If there's a 停电 (tíngdiàn), your TV will not work.
The power went out at our house last night.
Because of the power outage, we couldn't watch TV.
When there's a power outage, it's best to light candles.
Read this aloud:
公司停电了，大家不能工作。
Focus: tíng diàn
You said:
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Read this aloud:
我最不喜欢停电。
Focus: bù xǐ huān tíng diàn
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
停电多久了？
Focus: duō jiǔ le
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
昨晚突然___，家里一片漆黑。
The sentence describes a situation where the house became dark, indicating a power outage.
由于暴风雨，整个城市都经历了长时间的___。
A storm would typically cause a power outage for an entire city.
电梯因为___而停止运行，我们被困在了里面。
An elevator stopping due to a power issue suggests a power outage.
医院的备用电源在___时启动，确保了医疗设备的正常运转。
Hospitals use backup power during a power outage to maintain equipment.
我正在电脑上工作，突然___，文件还没保存！
A sudden power outage would cause a computer to turn off without saving files.
这个地区经常发生___，所以很多人家里都准备了蜡烛和手电筒。
Frequent power outages would lead people to prepare candles and flashlights.
昨晚突然___，家里一片漆黑。
The sentence describes a sudden event that plunged the house into darkness, which aligns with a power outage (停电).
因为暴风雨，整个城市都___了。
A severe storm often causes widespread power outages (停电) across a city.
公司决定安装发电机，以应对频繁的___。
To counter frequent interruptions to power supply, a company would install a generator to prepare for power outages (停电).
当___发生时，应急灯会自动亮起。
Emergency lights are designed to activate during a power outage (停电).
这次___造成了很大的经济损失。
A power outage (停电), especially a prolonged one, can lead to significant economic losses.
请大家节约用电，避免___。
Saving electricity helps prevent power outages (停电) due to overload or shortages.
This sentence describes an unexpected power outage and the subsequent action of lighting candles.
This sentence attributes the widespread power outage to a storm.
This sentence discusses both the inconvenience and the unexpected peace that a power outage can bring.
/ 54 correct
Perfect score!
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朝九晚五
B2From nine to five; regular working hours.
未免
B2Rather; a bit too; truly (implies something excessive).
废弃
B2To abandon; to discard; to cease to use.
恪守
B2To scrupulously observe; to strictly adhere to.
反常
B2abnormal, unusual
充裕
B2Abundant; ample.
充沛
B2Abundant; plentiful; full of energy.
门禁卡
B2Access card; entry card.
门禁
B2Access control (system).
配件
B2Fittings; accessories; spare parts.
