神灯 (shén dēng) — magic lamp | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

magic lamp

Measure word · 盏

Examples

神灯，。
Tā zhǎo dào le yì zhǎn shén dēng, kě yǐ shí xiàn sān gè yuàn wàng.
He found a magic lamp that can grant three wishes.
神灯。
Zhè ge gù shi lǐ de shén dēng néng bāng zhù zhǔ rén jiě jué kùn nan.
The magic lamp in this story can help its owner solve problems.
神灯，。
Chuán shuō zhōng yǒu yì zhǎn shén dēng, shuí yōng yǒu tā jiù néng huò dé lì liàng.
Legend has it that there is a magic lamp; whoever possesses it can gain power.

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.

神 means divine and 灯 means lamp; together they denote a divine or magic lamp.

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

示示shìgod; deity

Sound part声符shēngfú

申

申shēn神shén

Same sound today

The older form 申 drew lightning, which the ancients regarded as divine; 神 adds 示 (god/deity) to mark that meaning.

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.

Appears in

Mythology & Folklore

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