电话
dianhua
The English word "telephone" is 电话 (dianhua) in Chinese.
The word 电话 is a noun used to refer to the telephone. It can describe the telecommunication service itself or the physical device used for communication. To express the action of making a phone call, you should use the phrase 打电话.
Meaning: telecommunication device which converts data or sounds into electrical signals which are then transmitted to enable two or more people to communicate with each other over a distance (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 电话 is composed of 电, which means "electric" and 话, which means "speech" or "words". Literally, it means "electric speech".
Which one should you use?
While 电话 is the general term for the telephone, the term 电话机 specifically refers to the physical telephone hardware or machine.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
dianhua
What mistakes should you avoid?
When you want to say you are making a phone call, do not use 电话 alone as a verb. Instead, use the phrase 打电话.
Did you know?
- In Chinese, if you want to say someone is 'calling' you, you often use the word 打 (dǎ), which literally means 'to hit' or 'to strike'.
- The character 电 (diàn) in 电话 originally referred to lightning, which is why the word for 'electricity' and 'telephone' both share a root associated with a flash of light.
- If you are talking about a 'landline' specifically, you might hear the term 座机 (zuòjī), which literally means 'seated machine'.
Examples in context
- 哪里有电话机？Is there a telephone anywhere?This sentence is useful for asking if a telephone is available in a location.Tatoeba #397391 by GlossaMatik, translation #38232 by CK
- 电话簿在哪里？Where is the telephone book?This sentence is useful for asking for the location of a telephone book.Tatoeba #7768287 by jiangche, translation #378515 by CC
- 我能用你的电话吗？Can I use your telephone?This sentence is useful for asking permission to use someone's telephone.Tatoeba #733154 by GlossaMatik, translation #39959 by CK
- 我们可以用电话交流。We can communicate using the telephone.
- 给我打手机。Call me on my mobile phone.
- 我家里还有一个座机。I still have a landline phone at home.
- 44 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A woman is looking for a way to call her family.
- 志强 Zhiqiang这里有电话吗？Zhèlǐ yǒu diànhuà ma?Is there a telephone here?
- 佳怡 Jiayi有的，在桌子上。Yǒu de, zài zhuōzi shàng.Yes, it is on the table.
- 志强 Zhiqiang谢谢你，佳怡。Xièxiè nǐ, Jiāyí.Thank you, Jiayi.
- 佳怡 Jiayi不客气。Bú kèqi.You're welcome.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
