Definition
断电 is a separable verb (离合词) meaning 'to lose power' or 'to cut off the electricity'. The verb 断 ('to break/cut') and the object 电 ('electricity') can be separated when adding aspect markers, duration, or measure words — for example, 断了一次电 ('had a power outage once') or 断了三个小时的电 ('the power was out for three hours'). You can also use it as a single unit in non-separated contexts.
v.o.
to lose powerto have a power outageto cut off the electricity
Examples
- 断电。Zuótiān xiàwǔ wǒmen xiǎoqū tūrán duàn diàn le.Yesterday afternoon our neighborhood suddenly lost power.
- ，？Yǐjīng duàn le yí gè xiǎoshí de diàn le, shénme shíhou néng huīfù?The power has been out for an hour — when will it come back?
- 断电。Wéixiū diànlù shí xūyào xiān duàn diàn.When repairing the circuit, you need to cut the power first.
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