---
title: "Fadian Meaning: 发电 (fādiàn) Means “to generate electricity”"
description: "发电 (traditional 發電, fādiàn) means “to generate electricity”. Hear its tones, see what 发 and 电 each mean."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/fadian"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 发电 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

发电 fādiàn

## to generate electricity

## It can also mean

- to send a telegram
- (slang) to do something for love, unpaid (as in 为爱发电)

## Its characters

1. 发 fā to send
2. 电 diàn electricity

## In a sentence

[See 发电 in use](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8F%91%E7%94%B5)

## More words with 发 or 电

- [爆发 bàofā](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/baofa)
- [并发症 bìngfāzhèng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/bingfazheng)
- [充电 chōngdiàn](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chongdian)
- [出发 chūfā](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chufa)
- [打电话 dǎdiànhuà](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/dadianhua)
- [电池 diànchí](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/dianchi)
- [电动 diàndòng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/diandong)
- [电动车 diàndòngchē](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/diandongche)
- [电话 diànhuà](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/dianhua)
- [电力 diànlì](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/dianli)

## Keep 发电 for Review

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[All 214 Chinese radicals](https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-radicals)

[How it compares with Language Reactor](https://mandarinthewild.com/compare/language-reactor)