顶灯 (dǐng dēng) — dome light / overhead light (in a vehicle) | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

dome light / overhead light (in a vehicle)

Measure word · 盏

Examples

顶灯，。
Chē nèi dǐng dēng huài le, wǎn shàng kāi chē kàn bù qīng chǔ.
The dome light inside the car is broken, so it's hard to see when driving at night.
顶灯。
Zhè liàng chē de dǐng dēng kě yǐ zì dòng kāi guān.
The dome light in this car can turn on and off automatically.
顶灯，。
Qǐng bǎ dǐng dēng dǎ kāi, wǒ zhǎo yí xià dōng xī.
Please turn on the dome light; I need to find something.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

顶 indicates the top position and 灯 indicates the light, so this is the lamp placed above.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 頂; 顶 is its simplified writing.

丁頁頂

Meaning part形符xíngfú

頁頁yèhead

Sound part声符shēngfú

丁

丁dīng頂dǐng

Same sound today

The traditional form 頂 pairs 頁, meaning head, with 丁, which supplies the sound; the simplified 顶 is a later abbreviation.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

火丁灯

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

丁

丁dīng灯dēng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

灯 pairs 火, which shows fire, with 丁, which gives the sound.

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.