Electricity and communication with 電
電 primarily means “lightning” or “electricity”. It is used to refer to electrical energy and devices powered by it.
Etymology
The kanji is a phono-semantic compound made from 雨 (rain) and 申 as the sound-giving element, with the combined sense of lightning.
Communication
電話 (Telephone)
電話 means a telephone, phone call, or the act of calling someone.
It combines 電 (electric) with 話 (talk) to show talk carried by electricity.
At Professor Agasa’s request, Ran takes Conan home to see if her father will let him stay over for a while. When they reach Ran’s place, her detective father bursts out of the front door, saying he’s heading out on a job.
- 小五郎:
- 「さっき電話があったんだよ！！」
- “I just got a call!!”
- 「娘が黒ずくめの男に誘拐されたと、親から依頼が来た！！」
- “A request came from the parent, saying his daughter was kidnapped by a man dressed in all black!!”
- 「オレの力を借りたいってな！！」
- “He wants my help!!”
Power
電柱 (Utility pole)
電柱 means a utility pole that supports overhead electrical and communication lines.
It combines 電 (electric) with 柱 (pillar) to express the idea of an electric utility pole.
After piano class, Naoko hurries home only to see a ghostly figure appear from within a lake at the park. She recalls the events to her friends at school.
- 桜:
- 「な…奈緒子ちゃん なにかを見間違っちゃったってことは…… (木とか電柱とか看板とか)」
- “Na... Naoko, could it be that you ended up seeing something wrong...... (like a tree or a utility pole sign or something)?”
- 「……ないよね」
- “......I guess not.”
懐中電灯 (Flashlight)
懐中電灯 means a handheld, battery-powered flashlight.
It combines 懐中 (on one's person) with 電灯 (electric lamp) to show a portable lamp kept close at hand.
Ayumi leaves the bag with her new Masked Yaiba doll outside while she’s in the restroom. When she returns, she finds the bag waiting for her, but the doll is gone. Ran suggests someone may have taken her bag by mistake. Genta decides to see what’s in the bag Ayumi brought back, dumping its contents onto the ground.
- 元太:
- 「えーっと… 地図帳に双眼鏡に…」
- “Um... an atlas, binoculars...”
- 「懐中電灯…」
- “...a flashlight...”
Transport
電車 (Train)
電車 means an electric train, especially an everyday passenger train.
It combines 電 (electric) with 車 (vehicle) to show a vehicle powered by electricity.
Yui and her friends get permission to ride the train to continue their search for the legendary giant robot. Tickets are listed as 70 yen for children.
- さっちゃん:
- 「動物園はタダなのに」
- “Even though the zoo is free...”
- 結衣:
- 「電車は動物より強い」
- “Trains are stronger than animals.”
- 琴葉:
- 「ティラノサウルスより強い」
- “Stronger than a Tyrannosaurus.”