電
electricity
Readings
On'yomi
- デン
Kun'yomi
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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)
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.