节能灯 (jié néng dēng) — energy-saving light bulb; compact fluorescent lamp (CFL)

Definition

A 节能灯 is an energy-saving light bulb, most commonly the spiral CFL type. The first character 节能 means 'save energy' and the second is 灯 ('light').

noun
energy-saving light bulbcompact fluorescent lamp (CFL)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 节能灯。
    Zhè zhǒng jié néng dēng bǐ pǔ tōng dēng pào shěng diàn dé duō.
    This kind of energy-saving bulb saves much more electricity than ordinary bulbs.
  • 节能灯，。
    Wǒ men jiā huàn le xīn de jié néng dēng, liàng tang duō le.
    Our family changed to new energy-saving bulbs; it's much brighter.
  • 节能灯，。
    Zhè zhǒng jié néng dēng de shòu mìng hěn cháng, néng yòng hǎo jǐ nián.
    This kind of energy-saving bulb has a long lifespan; it can be used for several years.

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.

节能save energy
节jiésave能néngenergy
动宾Verb + object
灯dēnglamp

节能 means save energy and 灯 is a lamp, yielding a lamp that saves energy.

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 節; 节 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺮Written in full as竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
即
即jí節jié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 節 pairs ⺮ (bamboo) with 即, which gives the sound; the bamboo part points to a node of bamboo. The simplified 节 is a later abbreviation.

Open 节 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

能 is an old picture of a bear, showing two paws and a face with an open mouth.

Open 能 →

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 →

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