Keywords: dianfei, 电费, electricity bill in Chinese, how to say electricity fee in Chinese, paying bills in China, Chinese utility bills, what is dianfei, 电费 meaning, apartment costs in China, living in China vocabulary.
Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 电费 (diànfèi), which means “electricity bill” or “electricity fee.” This is a fundamental vocabulary term for anyone living, working, or studying in China, as you'll encounter it when renting an apartment, managing household expenses, and dealing with daily life. This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural context, practical usage for paying bills in modern China (e.g., via WeChat or Alipay), and provides numerous example sentences to help you master this crucial term.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): diànfèi
Part of Speech: Noun
HSK Level: HSK 3
Concise Definition: The fee or charge for the consumption of electricity.
In a Nutshell:电费 (diànfèi) is the direct and most common way to say “electricity bill.” It's a simple compound word, just like “water bill” (水费, shuǐfèi) or “internet bill” (网费, wǎngfèi). If you live in China, you will need to pay the 电费 every month, so this word is non-negotiable for practical, daily survival.
Character Breakdown
电 (diàn): This character originally depicted a lightning bolt stretching from the clouds to the ground. Today, it's the standard character for “electricity,” “electric,” or “lightning.”
费 (fèi): This character means “fee,” “cost,” “expense,” or “to spend.” It signifies a charge for a service or product.
The combination is perfectly logical: 电 (electricity) + 费 (fee) = 电费 (electricity fee).
Cultural Context and Significance
While a utility bill might seem culturally neutral, how 电费 (diànfèi) is handled in China reveals a lot about modern life and societal values.
Payment Methods: In the West, paying bills often involves mail, bank transfers, or auto-pay from a credit card. In modern China, paying the 电费 is almost exclusively done through mobile payment apps like Alipay (支付宝, Zhīfùbǎo) or WeChat Pay (微信支付, Wēixìn Zhīfù). You can simply scan a QR code on the bill or enter your account number in the app's “Utilities” section to pay instantly. This reflects the country's rapid digitization of daily life.
Tiered Pricing (阶梯电价, jiētī diànjià): Unlike the flat-rate or simple peak/off-peak systems common in many Western countries, China widely employs a “tiered pricing” model for residential electricity. The more you use, the higher the rate per kilowatt-hour becomes. This government policy is designed to encourage 节约 (jiéyuē), or “frugality/conservation,” a deeply ingrained cultural value. It also means that complaining “这个月的电费太高了！” (This month's electricity bill is too high!) is a very common summer lament when air conditioners are running constantly.
Pre-paid vs. Post-paid: Many Chinese apartments, especially rentals, use pre-paid electricity meters. Instead of receiving a bill for past usage, you must “top up” (充值, chōngzhí) your account in advance. If your balance hits zero, the power cuts off instantly. This system is convenient for landlords and ensures bills are always paid, but it can be a surprise for foreigners used to post-paid systems. You are essentially “buying electricity” before you use it, and this purchase is still referred to as paying 电费.
Practical Usage in Modern China
电费 is a high-frequency word in daily conversations about household matters.
Paying the Bill: The most common action associated with 电费 is paying it. The verb used is 交 (jiāo), which means “to hand in” or “to pay.”
“我得去交电费了。” (Wǒ děi qù jiāo diànfèi le.) - I have to go pay the electricity bill.
Discussing the Cost: People often talk about the amount of their 电费, especially when it's unusually high or low.
“你家一个月的电费大概多少钱？” (Nǐ jiā yí ge yuè de diànfèi dàgài duōshao qián?) - About how much is your family's monthly electricity bill?
In Rental Agreements: When renting an apartment, understanding how the 电费 is handled is critical. The key question is whether it's included in the rent.
“房租包不包电费？” (Fángzū bāo bù bāo diànfèi?) - Does the rent include the electricity bill? (“包” means “to include/wrap”).
Example Sentences
Example 1:
别忘了这个月要交电费。
Pinyin: Bié wàngle zhège yuè yào jiāo diànfèi.
English: Don't forget to pay the electricity bill this month.
Analysis: A common reminder between roommates or family members. The verb 交 (jiāo) is standard for paying bills.
English: I just paid the electricity bill using Alipay, it's very convenient.
Analysis: Another example of modern payment methods. 付 (fù) is a slightly more formal verb for “to pay” than 交 (jiāo), but both are common.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Confusing the “fee” with the “thing”.
English speakers might mistakenly use 电费 to mean “electricity” or “power.” This is incorrect. 电费 is the money you pay, while 电 (diàn) is the electricity itself.
Incorrect: `我的手机没有电费了。` (Wǒ de shǒujī méiyǒu diànfèi le.) - Literally, “My phone has no electricity fee.”
Correct: `我的手机没电了。` (Wǒ de shǒujī méi diàn le.) - “My phone is out of battery.”
Mistake 2: Using it for “charging”.
You cannot use 电费 to talk about the act of charging a device. The word for “to charge” (as in a battery) is 充电 (chōngdiàn).
Incorrect: `我需要给我的电脑付电费。` (Wǒ xūyào gěi wǒ de diànnǎo fù diànfèi.)
Correct: `我需要给我的电脑充电。` (Wǒ xūyào gěi wǒ de diànnǎo chōngdiàn.) - “I need to charge my computer.”
Related Terms and Concepts
水费 (shuǐfèi) - Water bill. The direct equivalent for water.