灯
lamp; light
dēng
What does 灯 mean?
灯 (dēng) is the general Chinese word for any electric or oil-burning light source — a lamp, light bulb, ceiling light, streetlight, traffic light, or lantern. The character pictures a fire radical (火) next to 丁, suggesting a small flame. Use 灯 as a stand-alone noun (开灯 'turn on the light,' 关灯 'turn off the light') or in compounds: 台灯 (tái dēng, desk lamp), 路灯 (lù dēng, streetlight), 红绿灯 (hóng lǜ dēng, traffic light), 灯泡 (dēngpào, light bulb), 灯笼 (dēnglong, paper lantern).
Unlike English, where 'light' can also mean illumination as an abstract noun, 灯 refers to the physical object. For light as in brightness or sunlight, use 光 (guāng).
Character breakdown
lamp; light (fire radical 火 + 丁)
Memory hook: Fire (火) on the left = it gives off light. Think of a small flame burning inside the character.
Measure word for 灯
Example sentences
天黑了，请把灯打开。
Tiān hēi le, qǐng bǎ dēng dǎkāi.
It's dark — please turn on the light.
spoken
睡觉前别忘了关灯。
Shuìjiào qián bié wàng le guān dēng.
Don't forget to turn off the light before bed.
spoken
我书桌上有一盏新台灯。
Wǒ shūzhuō shàng yǒu yì zhǎn xīn tái dēng.
There is a new desk lamp on my desk.
neutral
红绿灯坏了，要小心开车。
Hóng lǜ dēng huài le, yào xiǎoxīn kāichē.
The traffic light is broken — drive carefully.
neutral
晚上的路灯特别漂亮。
Wǎnshang de lù dēng tèbié piàoliang.
The streetlights at night are especially beautiful.
neutral
Common phrases with 灯
Synonyms
灯泡 is specifically a light BULB — the replaceable glass part. 灯 is the whole fixture or the light source as a category. You change a 灯泡 inside a 灯.
灯光 means 'lamplight / lighting' — the light that lamps give off, often used for atmosphere or stage lighting. 灯 is the physical lamp itself.