Keywords: nénghào, 能耗, energy consumption in China, power consumption, reduce energy consumption Chinese, energy efficiency, 中国能耗, China energy policy, sustainable development
Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 能耗 (nénghào), meaning 'energy consumption'. This guide explores its meaning, character breakdown, and critical role in modern China's discussions on environmental policy, manufacturing, and technology. Understand how 能耗 is used in official reports and daily life, from factory regulations to appliance efficiency labels, and grasp a key concept in China's goals for sustainable development.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): nénghào
Part of Speech: Noun
HSK Level: HSK 5
Concise Definition: The consumption of energy or power.
In a Nutshell:能耗 (nénghào) is a formal and technical term for 'energy consumption.' It's not the word you'd use for flipping a light switch, but rather for measuring the total energy used by a machine, a factory, a city, or a whole country. Think of it as the word you'd see in a government report about environmental goals, on a sticker on your new air conditioner detailing its efficiency, or in a news article about the tech industry's power-hungry data centers.
Character Breakdown
能 (néng): This character's most common meaning is “can” or “ability.” However, it is also the root character for “energy” as seen in the word 能量 (néngliàng). In 能耗, it specifically refers to energy.
耗 (hào): This character means “to consume,” “to use up,” or “to expend.” It often carries a sense of gradual depletion over time.
The two characters literally combine to mean “energy consume,” forming a direct and precise noun for the concept of “energy consumption.”
Cultural Context and Significance
The significance of 能耗 is not rooted in ancient philosophy but in modern China's rapid economic development and its consequences. For decades, China's growth was fueled by energy-intensive heavy industry. Today, the term is at the heart of the nation's push for a more sustainable and high-tech economy.
National Policy:能耗 is a keyword in China's Five-Year Plans and national strategies. The government implements strict “dual control” (双控 - shuāngkòng) policies to limit both the total amount of energy consumption (能耗总量) and its intensity (能耗强度 - energy consumed per unit of GDP). This has a direct impact on which industries are encouraged and which are restricted.
Comparison to “Energy Consumption” in the West: While the literal meaning is the same, the cultural weight is different. In Western countries, “energy consumption” is often framed around individual responsibility (turning off lights, buying an electric car) and corporate ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives. In China, while individual action exists, the discourse around 能耗 is dominated by top-down, state-driven industrial policy and national security. Controlling 能耗 is seen as a crucial lever for achieving national goals, from environmental protection to technological self-sufficiency.
Practical Usage in Modern China
能耗 is a formal term, most often encountered in written contexts or formal discussions.
Government & Economics: It's ubiquitous in news reports, economic analyses, and government documents discussing environmental targets, industrial upgrades, and GDP quality. Ex: “China aims to reduce its 能耗 per unit of GDP.”
Industry & Manufacturing: Factories and businesses are categorized by their 能耗. A “high energy consumption enterprise” (高能耗企业) might face stricter regulations or be targeted for technological upgrades.
Technology: The tech world frequently discusses the 能耗 of data centers, cryptocurrency mining (which was banned in China largely due to its massive 能耗), and AI model training.
Consumer Products: You will see 能耗 on the “China Energy Label” (中国能效标识 - Zhōngguó néngxiào biāozhì) on appliances like air conditioners, refrigerators, and washing machines, which grades the product on its energy consumption.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
降低能耗是实现可持续发展的关键。
Pinyin: Jiàngdī nénghào shì shíxiàn kěchíxù fāzhǎn de guānjiàn.
English: Reducing energy consumption is the key to achieving sustainable development.
Analysis: A very common and formal sentence you might read in an official document or newspaper editorial.
English: How can we effectively reduce energy consumption while ensuring economic growth?
Analysis: This question encapsulates the central dilemma that policymakers face, making 能耗 a critical concept in modern Chinese governance.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
Formal vs. Informal: The most common mistake is using 能耗 in casual conversation. It sounds overly technical and unnatural. For daily situations, use more specific and colloquial terms.
Incorrect: 我的手机能耗太快了。(Wǒ de shǒujī nénghào tài kuài le.) - “My phone's energy consumption is too fast.”
Correct: 我的手机太费电了。(Wǒ de shǒujī tài fèidiàn le.) - “My phone uses up battery too quickly.” (Lit: “is too electricity-consuming”)
Energy vs. Electricity:能耗 is a broad term for all forms of energy (electricity, coal, natural gas, oil). If you are talking specifically about electricity, the term 用电量 (yòngdiànliàng - amount of electricity consumed) is more precise.
Example: Don't say “这个月的能耗是300度” (This month's energy consumption was 300 units/kWh). Instead, say “这个月的用电量是300度” (This month's electricity consumption was 300 kWh).
Noun, not a Verb:能耗 is a noun. To talk about the action of consuming energy, you would use a verb like 消耗 (xiāohào) or 使用 (shǐyòng) with 能源 (néngyuán).
节能 (jiénéng) - To save energy. This is the goal or action taken to reduce 能耗.
能源 (néngyuán) - Energy source. This is the resource (like coal, oil, or solar power) that is consumed. 能耗 is the measurement of its consumption.
消耗 (xiāohào) - To consume; consumption. A more general verb/noun that can apply to any resource (time, materials, energy), whereas 能耗 is specific to energy.
环保 (huánbǎo) - Environmental protection. The broader social and political context in which controlling 能耗 is a major goal.
能效 (néngxiào) - Energy efficiency. The ratio of useful output to energy input. Improving 能效 is the primary way to lower 能耗.
用电量 (yòngdiànliàng) - Amount of electricity consumed. A more specific subset of 能耗.
高耗能 (gāo hàonéng) - High energy consumption. An adjective (often used as “高能耗”) to describe industries or equipment that use a lot of power.
可持续发展 (kěchíxù fāzhǎn) - Sustainable development. The ultimate policy goal that necessitates managing and reducing national 能耗.