Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== chātóu: 插头 - Plug (electrical) ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** chatou, 插头, Chinese for plug, electrical plug in Chinese, plug Chinese meaning, what is chatou, Chinese power adapter, China plug type, 插头 pinyin, Chinese electronics, HSK 3 vocabulary * **Summary:** `插头 (chātóu)` is the essential Chinese word for an electrical plug—the part with metal prongs that you insert into a wall socket. Literally meaning "insert head," this practical term is crucial for anyone using electronics in China, whether you need to charge your phone, use a laptop, or buy a travel adapter. Understanding `插头` and its counterpart, the socket (`插座 chāzuò`), is a basic necessity for travel and daily life in modern China. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** chā tóu * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 3 * **Concise Definition:** The pronged part of an electrical cord that is inserted into a socket. * **In a Nutshell:** `插头` is a straightforward, descriptive word for an everyday object. Think of it as the "head" (`头`) of the power cord that you "insert" (`插`) into the wall. It's a purely functional term with no hidden connotations, used by everyone from electricians to children to talk about connecting devices to power. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **插 (chā):** This character means "to insert," "to stick in," or "to plug in." It's composed of the "hand" radical (扌) on the left, indicating an action done with the hand, and a phonetic component (臿) on the right. You use your hand to insert something. * **头 (tóu):** This character means "head." While it refers to a person's or animal's head, it's also commonly used to mean the "end," "top," or "leading part" of an object, like the head of a nail or, in this case, the end of a cord. * The characters combine logically and visually: `插头 (chātóu)` is the "insert-head"—the head of the cord that gets inserted. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== * While `插头` itself doesn't carry deep philosophical weight, its practical context is a crucial piece of cultural information for any visitor to China. Understanding the physical `插头` is key to staying connected. * **Plug Types in China:** Mainland China primarily uses two types of plugs: * **Type A:** The two-pronged, flat-pin plug, identical to the one used in North America and Japan (though the voltage is different!). * **Type I:** The three-pronged plug with angled pins, the same type used in Australia and New Zealand. * **Comparison with the West:** This is a significant practical difference from the U.S. (which uses Type A and B) and Europe (which predominantly uses Type C and F). An American can often plug in a two-pronged device in China without an adapter, but a three-pronged U.S. plug will not fit. A European will almost always need a `转换插头 (zhuǎnhuàn chātóu)` - a conversion plug or travel adapter. * **A Note on Voltage:** It's also culturally and practically important to know that China's standard voltage is 220V, unlike the 110V standard in the U.S. While most modern electronics (laptops, phone chargers) have built-in converters, older or simpler American appliances could be damaged without a voltage converter. This knowledge is an essential part of the "context" of using a `插头` in China. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== * `插头` is a high-frequency, neutral term used in all manner of daily situations. Its usage is consistent across formal and informal settings. * **In Daily Conversation:** People use it when talking about charging devices, setting up appliances, or troubleshooting electrical problems. * e.g., "My phone charger's plug seems loose." (`我手机充电器的插头好像有点松。`) * **When Traveling or Shopping:** This word is essential when you're at a hotel asking for an adapter or in a store buying a new electronic device. * e.g., "Excuse me, do you sell travel adapter plugs here?" (`请问，这里卖转换插头吗？`) * **Distinguishing Plugs:** It's often used with qualifiers to describe the type of plug. * e.g., `三项插头 (sānxiàng chātóu)` for a three-pronged plug, or `两项插头 (liǎngxiàng chātóu)` for a two-pronged plug. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 这个**插头**是坏的，我需要买一个新的。 * Pinyin: Zhège **chātóu** shì huài de, wǒ xūyào mǎi yī gè xīn de. * English: This plug is broken, I need to buy a new one. * Analysis: A simple, direct sentence for identifying a problem. This is a common situation you might encounter. * **Example 2:** * 你能帮我把**插头**插到墙上的插座里吗？ * Pinyin: Nǐ néng bāng wǒ bǎ **chātóu** chā dào qiáng shàng de chāzuò lǐ ma? * English: Can you help me plug this plug into the socket on the wall? * Analysis: This sentence clearly distinguishes between `插头` (plug) and `插座` (socket). The verb `插 (chā)` is used for the action of plugging in. * **Example 3:** * 离开房间时，请记得拔掉所有电器的**插头**。 * Pinyin: Líkāi fángjiān shí, qǐng jìdé bá diào suǒyǒu diànqì de **chātóu**. * English: When you leave the room, please remember to unplug all the appliances. * Analysis: This introduces the opposite action: `拔掉 (bá diào)` - to pull out/unplug. This is common on signs in hotels or offices to save energy. * **Example 4:** * 这种三项**插头**在中国很常见。 * Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng sānxiàng **chātóu** zài Zhōngguó hěn chángjiàn. * English: This kind of three-pronged plug is very common in China. * Analysis: Shows how to specify the type of plug. `三项 (sānxiàng)` literally means "three-item" or "three-phase." * **Example 5:** * 我的笔记本电脑**插头**和这里的插座不匹配。 * Pinyin: Wǒ de bǐjìběn diànnǎo **chātóu** hé zhèlǐ de chāzuò bù pǐpèi. * English: My laptop's plug doesn't match the sockets here. * Analysis: A very useful sentence for any traveler. `不匹配 (bù pǐpèi)` means "doesn't match" or "is incompatible." * **Example 6:** * 你有欧标转换**插头**吗？ * Pinyin: Nǐ yǒu Ōubiāo zhuǎnhuàn **chātóu** ma? * English: Do you have a European standard adapter plug? * Analysis: This demonstrates how to ask for a specific type of adapter. `欧标 (Ōubiāo)` means "European standard." * **Example 7:** * 小心！那个**插头**有点漏电。 * Pinyin: Xiǎoxīn! Nàge **chātóu** yǒudiǎn lòudiàn. * English: Be careful! That plug is leaking a bit of electricity (has a short). * Analysis: A practical warning. `漏电 (lòudiàn)` means "to leak electricity," referring to a dangerous electrical fault. * **Example 8:** * 这个吹风机的**插头**设计得很安全。 * Pinyin: Zhège chuīfēngjī de **chātóu** shèjì de hěn ānquán. * English: The plug on this hairdryer is designed very safely. * Analysis: A sentence you might hear when a salesperson is describing a product's features. `设计 (shèjì)` means "to design." * **Example 9:** * 把**插头**插紧一点，不然接触不良。 * Pinyin: Bǎ **chātóu** chā jǐn yīdiǎn, bùrán jiēchù bùliáng. * English: Insert the plug a bit more tightly, otherwise the connection will be poor. * Analysis: Practical advice for a common problem. `接触不良 (jiēchù bùliáng)` is a set phrase meaning "poor contact" or "bad connection." * **Example 10:** * 充电器的**插头**太大了，挡住了旁边的插座。 * Pinyin: Chōngdiànqì de **chātóu** tài dà le, dǎngzhù le pángbiān de chāzuò. * English: The charger's plug is too big, it's blocking the socket next to it. * Analysis: Describes a modern, relatable frustration. `挡住 (dǎngzhù)` means "to block." ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **`插头 (chātóu)` vs. `插座 (chāzuò)`:** This is the most common mistake for learners. They are not interchangeable. * `插头 (chātóu)` is the **plug** (the "male" part with prongs). * `插座 (chāzuò)` is the **socket** or **outlet** (the "female" part with holes in the wall). * **Incorrect:** `我要把我的电脑插进插头里。` (I want to plug my computer into the plug.) * **Correct:** `我要把**插头**插进**插座**里。` (I want to insert the **plug** into the **socket**.) * A good way to remember: `头 (tóu)` is the "head" that sticks out. `座 (zuò)` means "seat" or "base"—the thing that the plug "sits" in. * **Verb vs. Noun:** Remember that `插头 (chātóu)` is the noun (the object), while `插 (chā)` is the verb (the action). You `插` the `插头`. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[插座]] (chāzuò) - The socket or electrical outlet. The direct counterpart to the `插头`. * [[充电器]] (chōngdiànqì) - Charger. The entire device for charging electronics, which consists of a `插头` and often a transformer and cable. * [[转换插头]] (zhuǎnhuàn chātóu) - Adapter plug / Travel adapter. A specific type of `插头` used to connect devices to foreign sockets. * [[电线]] (diànxiàn) - Electrical wire/cord. The `插头` is at the end of the `电线`. * [[插]] (chā) - The verb "to insert" or "to plug in." The action performed with a `插头`. * [[拔]] (bá) - The verb "to pull out" or "to unplug." The opposite action of `插`. * [[电压]] (diànyā) - Voltage. An essential related concept; China's standard `电压` is 220V. * [[三项插头]] (sānxiàng chātóu) - Three-pronged plug. A more specific term. * [[接线板]] (jiēxiànbǎn) - Power strip / Extension cord. A board with multiple `插座` to plug many `插头` into.