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电视
/diàn shì/
television
我每天下班后都会看电视。
I watch television every day after work.
formal
An electronic device or system that transmits and receives moving images and sound over a distance.
这台电视的屏幕很大。
This television has a large screen.
他们正在电视上播放新闻。
They are broadcasting news on television.
Often shortened to '电视' in spoken Chinese, but '电视机' (diànshìjī) is more precise for the physical device.
Pro Tip
Distinguish '电视' and '电视机'
'电视' is a general term for television as a medium or device, while '电视机' specifically refers to the physical television set.
Gold Rule
Usage in sentences
Use '电视' as a noun in contexts like '看电视' (watch TV) or '电视节目' (TV program). It is rarely used as a verb in standard Chinese.
Word Origin
Combines '电' (electricity) and '视' (vision), coined in the early 20th century to describe the new technology of transmitting images via electrical signals.
Usage Notes
In modern Chinese, '电视' can refer to both the device and the medium (broadcasting). The term is widely used in daily conversation and media.
Word Breakdown
电
electricity
root视
vision
root汉英词典