充电

chōngdiàn

to recharge (a battery)

HSK 5

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"充电" literally means "to charge electricity," commonly used for charging batteries in devices like phones or electric vehicles. It also metaphorically means "to recharge oneself," referring to resting or refreshing one's energy.

Common Collocations

  • 充电 (power bank): a portable charger
  • 充电器 (charger): device used to charge batteries
  • 充电时间 (charging time): duration needed to charge

Usage Notes

When used literally, "充电" refers to supplying electric power to a device. Metaphorically, it describes taking a break to regain energy. This dual use is common in daily conversation. Avoid confusing "充电" with "" (discharge).

Register and Tone

"充电" is neutral and widely used in both formal and informal contexts.

Example Sentences

手机没电了,我得去充电。

Shǒujī méi diàn le, wǒ děi qù chōngdiàn.

My phone is out of battery, I need to go charge it.

休息的时候,可以给自己充电,恢复精力。

Xiūxí de shíhòu, kěyǐ gěi zìjǐ chōngdiàn, huīfù jīnglì.

During rest, you can recharge yourself and restore energy.

这款电动车充电只需要两个小时。

Zhè kuǎn diàndòngchē chōngdiàn zhǐ xūyào liǎng gè xiǎoshí.

This electric vehicle only needs two hours to charge.