shěngdiàn: 省电 - To Save Electricity, Energy-Saving
Quick Summary
Keywords: shengdian, 省电, save electricity in Chinese, energy-saving Chinese, power-saving mode, Chinese appliances, energy efficiency China, how to say save power Chinese, 节约用电, Chinese daily life vocabulary
Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 省电 (shěngdiàn), which means “to save electricity” or “energy-saving.” This incredibly common word is a cornerstone of modern life in China, reflecting both the practical desire to lower utility bills and the national focus on energy conservation. You'll find it used to describe features on your smartphone (power-saving mode), as a key selling point for air conditioners and refrigerators, and as everyday advice for turning off the lights. This guide breaks down its cultural roots, practical usage, and provides numerous examples to help you master this vital piece of vocabulary.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): shěngdiàn
Part of Speech: Verb, Adjective
HSK Level: HSK 4 (common vocabulary)
Concise Definition: To save electricity; energy-efficient.
In a Nutshell:省电 (shěngdiàn) is a direct and practical term formed by combining “to save” (省) and “electricity” (电). It's used both as an action (verb) like “Let's save electricity,” and as a quality (adjective) like “This is an energy-saving lightbulb.” It's a word you'll encounter constantly when dealing with electronics, household chores, and discussions about living costs in China.
Character Breakdown
省 (shěng): This character's primary meaning here is “to save,” “to economize,” or “to omit.” Think of it as reducing something to its essential parts to be more efficient. (Note: It also means “province,” as in a political division, but that's a different context).
电 (diàn): This character is a pictogram of lightning (雨 “rain” radical with a tail zipping down), and it means “electricity” or “electric.”
How they combine: The logic is beautifully simple: 省 (to save) + 电 (electricity) = 省电 (to save electricity). The two characters join to create a clear, unambiguous verb-object compound word.
Cultural Context and Significance
Pragmatism and Frugality: The concept of 省电 (shěngdiàn) is deeply connected to the traditional Chinese value of 节约 (jiéyuē), or frugality. Being economical and not wasteful is a widely respected virtue. While in the past this might have applied to food or cloth, in the modern era, it extends directly to utilities like electricity. Asking someone to 省电 is not seen as cheap or stingy, but as sensible and responsible.
Western Comparison: In Western cultures, particularly in the US, “energy-saving” is often framed primarily through the lens of environmentalism (“going green”) or as a premium technological feature. While these aspects exist in China, the primary driver for the average person is often more direct: saving money on the 电费 (diànfèi), or electricity bill. This makes 省电 a more grounded, everyday economic concern than just an abstract ethical one.
National Policy: On a macro level, China has national strategic goals for energy conservation and reducing carbon emissions. This means “saving electricity” is not just a household goal but a national one. You will see government-sponsored campaigns and slogans promoting 省电 and 节约用电 (jiéyuē yòngdiàn), reinforcing its importance in the collective consciousness.
Practical Usage in Modern China
As an Adjective (Describing Products): This is one of the most common uses. When buying any appliance—from an air conditioner to a rice cooker—a key feature highlighted by salespeople and on packaging will be whether it is 省电.
`这个冰箱很省电。` (This refrigerator is very energy-efficient.)
As a Verb (Giving Advice/Commands): It's used to tell someone (or yourself) to be mindful of electricity usage.
`出门记得关灯，要省电。` (Remember to turn off the lights when you go out; you need to save electricity.)
In Device Settings: Your smartphone, laptop, or even electric scooter will have a 省电模式 (shěngdiàn móshì), or “power-saving mode.” This is a ubiquitous term in the world of tech.
`我手机快没电了，我得打开省电模式。` (My phone is almost dead, I have to turn on power-saving mode.)
Example Sentences
Example 1:
这种LED灯比以前的灯泡省电多了。
Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng LED dēng bǐ yǐqián de dēngpào shěngdiàn duō le.
English: This kind of LED light is much more energy-saving than the old light bulbs.
Analysis: A classic use of 省电 as an adjective in a comparison sentence using `比 (bǐ)`. This is a very common structure when shopping for appliances.
English: Mom always reminds us to turn off the lights as we leave a room to save electricity and be frugal.
Analysis: Here, 省电 is part of a common four-character-like phrase `省电节约 (shěngdiàn jiéyuē)`, which pairs it with the broader concept of frugality. `随手关灯 (suíshǒu guān dēng)` is a set phrase for this specific action.
English: Our company requires all employees to shut down their computers after work to achieve the goal of saving electricity.
Analysis: A more formal example in a business context. `以达到…的目的 (yǐ dádào… de mùdì)` means “in order to achieve the goal of…”
Example 8:
这个旧冰箱太耗电了，一点儿也不省电。
Pinyin: Zhè ge jiù bīngxiāng tài hào diàn le, yìdiǎnr yě bù shěngdiàn.
English: This old refrigerator consumes too much power; it's not energy-efficient at all.
Analysis: Demonstrates the negative form. The opposite of 省电 is `耗电 (hàodiàn)`, meaning “to consume electricity.” The phrase `一点儿也不 (yìdiǎnr yě bù)` strongly negates the adjective.
Example 9:
你有什么省电的好办法吗？
Pinyin: Nǐ yǒu shénme shěngdiàn de hǎo bànfǎ ma?
English: Do you have any good methods for saving electricity?
Analysis: A simple, practical question. Here, 省电 modifies `好办法 (hǎo bànfǎ)`, acting as an adjective describing the “methods.”
English: The government is currently promoting energy-saving home appliances and providing subsidies for purchasers.
Analysis: Shows the term used at a policy level. `省电家电 (shěngdiàn jiādiàn)` is a set term for “energy-saving home appliances.”
Nuances and Common Mistakes
省电 (shěngdiàn) vs. 节约用电 (jiéyuē yòngdiàn):
省电 is more colloquial and frequently used as an adjective for products (e.g., 省电的空调). It's the everyday term.
节约用电 is a more formal phrase, literally “to use electricity frugally.” It's often used in slogans, official announcements, and written notices. You wouldn't typically say a lightbulb is `节约用电`, you'd say it's `省电`.
Specificity to Electricity: The character 省 (shěng) means “to save,” and it can be paired with other nouns to mean saving other things. Don't confuse them!
`省水 (shěngshuǐ)` - to save water
`省钱 (shěngqián)` - to save money
`省油 (shěngyóu)` - to save gas (fuel-efficient)
A car is `省油`, not `省电` (unless it's an EV, in which case both could apply in different contexts!).
Verb Usage: While 省电 is a verb, it's not typically used with aspect particles like `着 (zhe)` or `了 (le)` to indicate ongoing or completed action in the same way as in English. You wouldn't say `*我正在省电 (Wǒ zhèngzài shěngdiàn)` for “I am saving electricity right now.” You would describe the specific action: `我正在关灯 (Wǒ zhèngzài guān dēng)` - “I am turning off the lights.” 省电 is more about the general goal or habit.
Related Terms and Concepts
节约 (jiéyuē) - The broader concept of being frugal or economical; the core value behind 省电.
省钱 (shěngqián) - To save money; often the main motivation for saving electricity.
省油 (shěngyóu) - To save gas/fuel; fuel-efficient. The direct equivalent of 省电 for vehicles.
电费 (diànfèi) - Electricity bill; the monthly cost one tries to reduce by being 省电.
环保 (huánbǎo) - Environmental protection; the larger ecological reason to save electricity.
耗电 (hàodiàn) - To consume electricity; the antonym of 省电. A device that is not energy-efficient is `很耗电`.
能耗 (nénghào) - Energy consumption; a more technical and formal term used on product labels.
低碳 (dītàn) - Low-carbon; a modern environmental concept closely related to saving energy.
模式 (móshì) - Mode/model; used in the key phrase `省电模式 (shěngdiàn móshì)` or power-saving mode.
家电 (jiādiàn) - Home appliances; the category of products most often described as being 省电.