来
电

About

The word 来电 is formed through a direct and vivid conceptual metaphor. It literally combines "来" (to come) and "电" (electricity), visually depicting electricity arriving or flowing. This concrete image is then applied abstractly to represent the sudden, energizing, and connecting force of an incoming phone call or, more figuratively, the spontaneous "spark" of romantic attraction or a moment of inspiration, where a jolt of energy seems to arrive from an external source to animate the situation or the individuals involved.

Example Sentences Hide

刚才有一个来电。

Gāngcái yǒu yí gè láidiàn.

There was an incoming call just now.

我错过了你的来电。

Wǒ cuòguòle nǐ de láidiàn.

I missed your incoming call.

因为太吵，我没听到来电。

Yīnwèi tài chǎo, wǒ méi tīng dào láidiàn.

Because it was too noisy, I didn't hear the incoming call.

来电铃声提醒我接电话。

Láidiàn língshēng tíxǐng wǒ jiē diànhuà.

The incoming call ringtone reminds me to answer the phone.

如果来电显示陌生号码，不要轻易接听。

Rúguǒ láidiàn xiǎnshì mòshēng hàomǎ, bùyào qīngyì jiētīng.

If the caller ID shows an unknown number, don't answer it easily.

Word Definition - 来电

lái diàn incoming telephone call (or telegram); to phone in; to send in a telegram; to have an instant attraction to sb; (of electricity, after an outage) to come back

Individual Character Details

来 lái
电 diàn