灯红酒绿 (dēng hóng jiǔ lǜ) — (idiom) scene of feasting and revelry; debauchery and indulgence in nightlife

Definition

Literally 'red lanterns, green wine,' this idiom paints a vivid picture of nightlife filled with feasting, drinking, and indulgent pleasure. Today it usually carries a negative tone, suggesting decadence rather than simple celebration.

idiom
scene of feasting and revelrydebauchery and indulgence in nightlife

Examples

  • 灯红酒绿。
    Zhè ge chéng shì de dēng hóng jiǔ lǜ ràng rén yǎn huā liáo luàn.
    This city's nightlife of feasting and revelry dazzles the eyes.
  • 灯红酒绿，。
    Tā shòu bù liǎo nà zhǒng dēng hóng jiǔ lǜ de shēng huó, jué dìng bān qù xiāng xia.
    He couldn't stand that kind of debauched lifestyle and decided to move to the countryside.
  • 灯红酒绿。
    Diàn yǐng lǐ zhǎn xiàn le jiù shàng hǎi dēng hóng jiǔ lǜ de chǎng jǐng.
    The movie showed scenes of old Shanghai's feasting and revelry.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

灯红lamps are red
灯dēnglamp红hóngred
主谓Subject + predicate
酒绿wine is green
酒jiǔwine绿lǜgreen
主谓Subject + predicate

灯红 and 酒绿 together paint glowing lamps and green wine, evoking a scene of indulgent nightlife.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
火火huǒ
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.

Open 灯 →

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 紅; 红 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng紅hóng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 紅 puts 糸 (silk) next to 工, which gives the sound; the simplified 红 is a later shorthand.

Open 红 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
酉
酉yǒu酒jiǔ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

酒 pairs 酉, the original picture for this word, with 水 (water), added later to distinguish it.

Open 酒 →

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 綠; 绿 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
彔
彔lù綠lù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 綠 uses 糸 to show silk and 彔 for sound; the simplified 绿 is a later abbreviation, so its parts are not the original pieces.

Open 绿 →

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