燈籠 / 灯笼
dēnglóng
The English word lantern translates to Chinese as 燈籠 / 灯笼 (dēnglóng). If unsure, use 燈籠 / 灯笼. Wiktionary also lists 燈 / 灯 (dēng).
Meaning: case of transparent material made to protect a flame, or light (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 燈籠 / 灯笼 | dēnglóng |
| 燈 / 灯 | dēng |
燈籠 / 灯笼 specifically refers to traditional Chinese lanterns, which are often made from paper, silk or other materials and used for decoration and celebration. In contrast, 燈 / 灯 is a broader term that refers to any type of light source, including lamps and lanterns.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 燈籠 / 灯笼 is a compound of 燈 (light/lamp) and 籠 (cage/basket), literally meaning a 'light cage'.
Which one should you use?
While 燈 / 灯 refers generally to any lamp or light, 燈籠 / 灯笼 specifically refers to a lantern.
How do you pronounce it?
dēnglóng
When do people say it?
The term 燈籠 / 灯笼 is most commonly used in the context of traditional Chinese festivals, such as the Lantern Festival.
Did you know?
- During the Lantern Festival, the phrase 猜燈謎 / 猜灯谜 describes the custom of 'guessing lantern riddles', where written puzzles are attached to the lanterns.
- While 燈籠 / 灯笼 means 'light cage', the word 籠 (cage) is also used to describe a birdcage or a steamer basket used for dim sum.
- In ancient Chinese, the character 燈 / 灯 was constructed using a component representing 'fire', indicating its original association with a flame.
Examples in context
- 传统的中国灯笼非常美丽。Traditional Chinese lanterns are very beautiful.
- 我买了一盏新灯。I bought a new lantern.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lantern” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 燈, CC BY-SA 4.0.
