绿灯
lǜ dēng
The English phrase "green light" can be translated into Chinese as 绿灯 (lǜ dēng).
Meaning: permission (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of 绿 (lǜ), meaning 'green' and 灯 (dēng), meaning 'lamp' or 'light'.
Which one should you use?
While 绿灯 signifies permission, its counterpart 红灯 (hóng dēng), meaning "red light", is used metaphorically to signify a stop, a warning or a prohibition.
How do you pronounce it?
lǜ dēng
Did you know?
- While 绿灯 means permission, the color green in Chinese culture historically has a complex relationship with 'hats'. Specifically, 绿帽子 (lǜ mào zi), or 'green hat', is a slang term for a man whose wife is cheating on him.
- While English uses 'green light' for permission, a Chinese speaker might instead use the idiom 一路绿灯 (yí lù lǜ dēng), which literally means 'a path of green lights', to wish someone a smooth journey without any obstacles.
- In ancient China, the color green was often associated with the element of wood and the east, long before international traffic signal standards were adopted.
Examples in context
- 当交通信号灯显示绿灯时When the traffic signal displays a green light
- 这个机器使用绿色的指示灯来表示它正常工作This machine uses a green-colored indicator light to indicate that it is working properly
- 等到绿灯儿再过马路Wait for the green light before crossing the road
- 老板还没给我们绿灯。Lǎobǎn hái méi gěi wǒmen lǜdēng.The boss hasn't given us the green light yet.
- 项目终于得到了绿灯。Xiàngmù zhōngyú dédàole lǜdēng.The project finally got the green light.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing a new project proposal.
- 佳怡 Jiayi俊杰，经理同意我们的方案了吗？Jùnjié, jīnglǐ tóngyì wǒmen de fāng'àn le ma?Junjie, did the manager approve our proposal?
- 俊杰 Junjie是的，他已经亮了绿灯。Shì de, tā yǐjīng liàngle lǜdēng.Yes, he has already given the green light.
- 佳怡 Jiayi太好了！我们现在可以行动了。Tài hǎole! Wǒmen xiànzài kěyǐ xíngdòng le.Great! Now we can take action.
- 俊杰 Junjie没错，佳怡，快准备一下吧。Méicuò, Jiāyí, kuài zhǔnbèi yīxià ba.Exactly, Jiayi, please get ready quickly.
