Meaning
电话 is one of the most basic and essential words in Chinese, referring to a telephone device or a phone call. It's a compound word combining 电 (electricity) and 话 (speech), literally meaning 'electric speech.' This word is used in everyday life for both the physical device and the act of making a call.
Usage
电话 is used in both formal and informal contexts. When saying 'make a phone call,' Chinese uses 打电话 (dǎ diànhuà). When asking for someone's phone number, say 电话号码 (diànhuà hàomǎ). In modern usage, it can refer to landlines, mobile phones, or the act of calling.
Examples
- 01我给你打电话。.I'll call you.
- 02你的电话号码是多少？?What's your phone number?
Characters
Measure words
- 部一部电话
- 个一个电话
Common collocations
- 打电话to make a phone call
- 接电话to answer the phone
- 电话号码phone number
- 挂电话to hang up the phone
Origin
Created in the late 19th century when telephones were introduced to China. The compound literally means 'electric speech,' a logical translation of the concept of transmitting voice through electrical signals.