The Meaning of hatsuden [発電] In Japanese

発電
はつでん
Romaji: hatsuden N3

What does 発電 mean?

Translation and Meaning

power generation, generation of electricity

Definition

発電 means the process of generating electricity; it refers to producing electrical energy from energy sources such as fossil fuels, hydro, wind, solar, or nuclear through machinery like generators and turbines.

Type

noun (サ変名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Electric power generation as a general technical concept used in engineering, policy, and industry.
  • The act or capacity of producing electric energy, often discussed in relation to power plants and energy sources.

Etymology

The term is a Sino-Japanese compound formed from 発 (to start/emit) and 電 (electricity). The reading はつでん uses on’yomi, typical for technical vocabulary.

Origin

Emerging in the Meiji period with the modernization of Japan’s energy infrastructure, 発電 came to denote the generation of electricity as power plants were introduced and the electric grid expanded.

Composition

  • 発: to start, emit; indicates initiation of energy flow
  • 電: electricity; the energy being produced

Usage

Used in formal and technical contexts; appears as 発電 as a noun and as 発電する in verb form; common collocations include 発電所, 発電量, 発電能力; in discourse about energy policy, industry reports, and media coverage of electricity supply. 発電所の新設計画が承認された。再生可能エネルギーの拡大に伴い発電構成が変化している。
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: Visualize a switch labeled 発 turning on a glowing 電 bolt, reminding you that 発電 is the act of starting electricity generation.

Variations

  • 電力生成 (でんりょくせいぞう) — formal synonym
  • 電力生産 (でんりょくせいさん) — production of electric power
  • 発電する (はつでんする) — verb form to generate electricity
  • 電力発生 (でんりょくはっせい) — alternative compound

Example Phrases

  • 今日は学校で発電の仕組みを学んだ。
    Kyou wa gakkou de hatsuden no shikumi o mananda.
    Today at school I learned about the mechanism of power generation.
    Lista:
    • 今日は (kyou wa) – today
    • 学校で (gakkou de) – at school
    • 発電の (hatsuden no) – of power generation
    • 仕組みを (shikumi o) – the mechanism
    • 学んだ (mananda) – learned
    発電は名詞で、「power generation」の意味。 here it is used with の to modify 仕組み: 「発電の仕組み」.
発電