The English word "power" has many meanings. This person wanted authority and strength - they got the type that powers your toaster.
The Story
"I wanted the power of a king. I got the power that comes from wall outlets."
Someone wanted a Chinese character representing "power" – the kind that signifies authority, strength, influence, or dominance. The power of a king, a warrior, a leader.
What they got was 电 (diàn) – electricity. The kind that comes from wall outlets and powers your refrigerator.
The Linguistic Breakdown
The English word "power" can mean many things:
- Electrical power – 电力 (diàn lì)
- Political power – 权力 (quán lì)
- Physical strength – 力量 (lì liàng)
- Supernatural power – 法力 (fǎ lì)
- Influence – 势力 (shì lì)
When you type "power" into a translator, 电 (electricity) is often the first result because:
- "Power" in technical/physics contexts means electrical power
- This is the most common usage in translated documents
- Translation algorithms prioritize frequency, not intent
What They Probably Wanted
- 力 (lì) = Force, strength (basic, but vague)
- 权 (quán) = Authority, power, rights
- 霸 (bà) = Hegemon, dominant power
- 势 (shì) = Momentum, influence, power
Better Phrases for "Power"
- 无上权力 (wú shàng quán lì) = Supreme power
- 力量之源 (lì liàng zhī yuán) = Source of strength
- 王者之势 (wáng zhě zhī shì) = Power of a king
Key Takeaways
- English words have multiple Chinese translations
- Context determines which translation is correct
- Google Translate doesn't understand intent