灯 (dēng) — lamp; light
Definition
General word for 'lamp' or 'light' — everyday term covering any electric light, table lamp, or hanging fixture. 灯光 is the light itself (the glow/effect), while 灯笼 is a traditional paper lantern.
noun
lamplight
Measure word · 盏
Easily confused
- 订dìnglook-aliketo order (goods, tickets, food, etc.), to book
- 登dēngsound-aliketo climb, to ascend (a mountain, stairs, etc.)
- 打dǎlook-aliketo hit, strike, beat
- 蹬dēngsound-aliketo step on, to tread on
- 钉dìnglook-aliketo nail, to pin, to staple (fasten by driving a pointed object)
- 盯dīnglook-aliketo stare at, to fix one's attention on, to gaze at
Examples
- 灯。Qǐng bǎ dēng guān diào.Please turn off the light.
- 灯。Chuáng tóu yǒu yì zhǎn dēng.There is a lamp by the bed.
- 灯，。Zhè ge dēng huài le, bù néng yòng le.This light is broken and can't be used.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
灯 pairs 火, which shows fire, with 丁, which gives the sound.
Appears in
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