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March 24, 2026
电报(電報)diànbào(dian4bao4)
电报 (diànbào) refers to a telegram, which is a written message sent by telegraph. Commonly used in the past for long-distance communication, this term embodies the idea of sending messages swiftly over great distances, typically before the advent of modern technologies like email and SMS.
Frequency#7201DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
Historically, 电报 played a significant role in China during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the context of modernization and communication during the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China.
Memory Tip
Imagine sending a message via a lightning bolt (电, diàn) that travels through wires to reach its destination quickly. The '报' (bào) part can remind you of 'report' or 'announce', connecting the idea of delivering important news through electricity.
Meanings of 电报
diànbào(dian4bao4)
1telegram
2cable
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About 电报
电报Simplified
電報Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
封Measure Word
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 电报
Podcast: 电报
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AI Study Notes for 电报
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine sending a message via a lightning bolt (电, diàn) that travels through wires to reach its destination quickly. The '报' (bào) part can remind you of 'report' or 'announce', connecting the idea of delivering important news through electricity.
Usage Notes
Be careful with the tone; the first character '电' must be pronounced with the fourth tone, while the second character '报' also requires the fourth tone. This term is typically used in formal contexts, especially when discussing historical forms of communication.
HSK Study Tips
Though 电报 is not an HSK vocabulary word, understanding it can help learners connect with other communication-related terms like 电话 (telephone) and 电子邮件 (email), which are more common in modern usage. Focus on recognizing the characters and their components.
Cultural Note
Historically, 电报 played a significant role in China during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the context of modernization and communication during the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 电报 with 电话 (telephone) or 电子邮件 (email), thinking they are synonymous; however, 电报 specifically refers to telegrams sent via telegraph. Another mistake is mispronouncing it, such as saying 'diánbǎo' instead of the correct 'diànbào'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 电报
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Cultural Notes for 电报
🏮Cultural insight
Historically, 电报 played a significant role in China during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the context of modernization and communication during the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China.
Frequently Asked Questions about 电报
You can say, '我昨天发了一封电报。' (Wǒ zuótiān fāle yī fēng diànbào.) meaning 'I sent a telegram yesterday.'
No, 电报 is largely outdated due to modern communication methods, but it may still be referenced in historical contexts.
You might encounter terms like 通信 (tōngxìn) which means 'communication' or 信息 (xìnxī) which means 'information'.
