tonny※王
how to use electric, electrical, electronic, electronical correctly? i am always confused. electric, electrical, electronic, electronical…… these translations in Chinese are very similar,just like "电的", but I don't know the right way to use them. could you help me? thanks a lot.
May 20, 2015 1:30 PM
Answers · 5
2
Electric has to do with electricity/ things that run off of a current. i.e. an electric fan, an electric toaster, an electric hair dryer. Electrical means relating to electricity. i.e. An electric fan runs off of an electrical current. or I am having electrical problems at my house, so my lights won't turn on. Electronic has to do with the science of electricity, and is generally used in speech to denote items such as radios, computers, video games, mobile phones, etc.. i.e. All of my electronics died at the same time, so I had to decide which one to charge first. Electronical is not actually an English word, though it is often used to explain an electronic device. i.e. My phone is electronical, so I can't bring it in the water. In this case, the proper word should be electronic, but both would be understood. I hope this helps =O)
May 20, 2015
1
"Electronic" refers to devices that control electrons with electric fields--originally vacuum tubes, now semiconductors. It includes amplifiers, oscillators, digital switching devices, microchips, etc. "Electric" means that it isn't electronic but that it does use electricity. Motors, wires, magnets, relays, switches, incandescent light bulbs, nichrome wire in heaters, etc. "Electrical" means having to do with electricity. "The short circuit started an electrical fire." "Electronics" is an uncountable noun. "Electronic" is an adjective. There is no word "electronical," because we have the adjective "electronic." There are adverbs, "electrically" and "electronically." Nowadays of course there are electronics in almost everything, and word choice is sometimes just a matter of history. For example, "electric cars" couldn't exists without electronics. Why do we call them "electric cars" and not "electronic cars?" My guess is that it is because there were already "electric cars" in the 1890s, so the phrase already existed.
May 20, 2015
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