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Kotomora

電

electricity

JLPTN5StatusJōyō · grade 2FrequencyTop 500Strokes13

Readings

On'yomi

  • デン

Kun'yomi

—

Meaning

電 centers on electricity: the invisible force that powers modern life, often associated with lightning and rapid energy.

Most common words using 電

24 of 1,252
  • 電話でんわ
    N5

    telephone call; phone call

  • 電車でんしゃ
    N5

    train; electric train

  • 電子でんし
    N2

    electron

  • 電気でんき
    N5

    electricity

  • 発電はつでん
    N2

    generation of electricity; power generation

  • 電力でんりょく
    N2

    electric power

  • 充電じゅうでん
    N3

    charging (electrically)

  • 電源でんげん
    N3

    source of electricity; electrical power

  • 電波でんぱ
    N2

    radio wave; reception; signal

  • 電池でんち
    N4

    battery; cell

  • 家電かでん
    N2

    household (electrical) appliances; home appliances; consumer electronics

  • 電動でんどう

    electrically powered; electric

  • 停電ていでん
    N3

    power outage; power failure; power cut; blackout

  • 電撃でんげき

    electric shock

  • 電圧でんあつ
    N1

    voltage

  • 電流でんりゅう
    N2

    electric current

  • 電灯でんとう
    N4

    electric light

  • 電球でんきゅう
    N2

    light bulb

  • 電線でんせん
    N1

    electric line; electric cable; power cable

  • 電化でんか

    electrification

  • 電機でんき

    electrical machinery; appliances

  • 送電そうでん

    transmission of electricity; electricity supply; power supply

  • 電鉄でんてつ

    electric railway

  • 終電しゅうでん
    N3

    last train (of the day)

Explore all words using 電 →

Study

Etymology

電 combines 雨 (rain) with a simplified form of 申 (to extend), suggesting lightning extending through rain clouds. The modern form uses 田 with a tail, a simplification of the older component.

Meaning mnemonic

Rain 雨 falls from the top, and the lower part looks like a lightning bolt striking a field 田 with a tail. Together, 電 is the electricity in a storm.

Reading mnemonic

For デン, imagine a den full of electric eels: den -> デン, and the eels spark with electricity like the kanji 電.