充电
chōngdiàn · HSK 4
to recharge (a battery); (fig.) to recharge one's batteries (through leisure)
🔋⚡ 充电 = fill + electricity = charge a battery
充 means to fill or replenish; 电 means electricity. Together they literally describe filling something with electricity. Also used figuratively for a person recharging — taking a break to refresh.
充 — 育 (raise/grow) on top of 儿 (legs/person)
Originally depicted a person walking forward, suggesting movement and advancement. The form combines a growth element above with a person below, evoking the sense of being filled up or made full as one grows. Over time, the meaning shifted from 'go forward' to 'fill, fulfill, abundant'.
电 — rain 雨 + lightning tail 电
Originally a pictograph of lightning streaking from a cloud, written 電 with the rain radical 雨 on top. The bottom 电 depicts the zigzag flash itself. The simplified form 电 drops 雨 and keeps just the lightning shape. Meaning extended from 'lightning' to 'electricity' in modern usage.
chōng diàn · HSK 4
to charge (battery)
🔋⚡ 充电 = fill + electricity (充 fill/charge up + 电 electricity)
充 means to fill or replenish; 电 means electricity. Together they literally describe topping up a battery with electric charge. Also used metaphorically for resting to recharge oneself.
充 — 育 (raise/grow) on top of 儿 (legs/person)
Originally depicted a person walking forward, suggesting movement and advancement. The form combines a growth element above with a person below, evoking the sense of being filled up or made full as one grows. Over time, the meaning shifted from 'go forward' to 'fill, fulfill, abundant'.
电 — rain 雨 + lightning tail 电
Originally a pictograph of lightning streaking from a cloud, written 電 with the rain radical 雨 on top. The bottom 电 depicts the zigzag flash itself. The simplified form 电 drops 雨 and keeps just the lightning shape. Meaning extended from 'lightning' to 'electricity' in modern usage.