燈 / 灯
dēng
The Chinese word for lamp is 燈 / 灯 (dēng). Wiktionary also lists 電燈 / 电灯 (diàndēng).
Meaning: device producing light (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 燈 / 灯 | dēng |
| 電燈 / 电灯 | diàndēng |
燈 / 灯 is a general term used to refer to any source of light, including lanterns, candles or lamps.
What does it mean word for word?
The more specific term 電燈 / 电灯 is a compound of 電 (electricity) and 燈 (lamp/light).
Which one should you use?
While 燈 / 灯 is a general term for any light or lamp, 電燈 / 电灯 specifically refers to an electric lamp.
How do you pronounce it?
dēng
Did you know?
- In Chinese culture, the 'lantern' aspect of 燈 / 灯 is central to the Lantern Festival, where solving riddles written on lamps is a traditional activity.
- The character for lamp, 燈 / 灯, contains the radical 火 which means 'fire'. This reflects a time before electricity when all lamps relied on actual flames.
- The word 燈 / 灯 can be used metaphorically in the phrase 'lighting a lamp' to mean acting as a guide or providing spiritual enlightenment.
Examples in context
- 我需要买一盏台灯。I need to buy a desk lamp.
- 请把灯关上。Please turn off the light.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lamp” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
