HSK 3, n, 6 strokes, radical 火, rank #1650, Medium
灯
dēng
light
HSK 3, n, 6 strokes, radical 火, rank #1650, Medium
灯
dēng
lantern
HSK 3, n, 6 strokes, radical 火, rank #1650, Medium
dēng(deng1)deng T1
1lamp
2light
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March 24, 2026
灯(燈)dēng(deng1)
The character 灯 (dēng) refers to a light source, such as a lamp or lantern. It is commonly used in various contexts, including home lighting and traditional celebrations where lanterns are lit. The character conveys the idea of illumination and is fundamental in discussing anything related to light.
Strokes6Radical火Frequency#1650DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, lanterns (灯笼) are traditionally used during festivals such as the Lantern Festival, symbolizing reunion and the arrival of spring. The use of light during celebrations underscores the importance of family and togetherness.
Memory Tip
Imagine a glowing lamp (灯) illuminating a dark room. The top part of the character resembles a flame, suggesting brightness, while the bottom part is like a base supporting the light. Picture the light (dēng) creating a warm atmosphere in your home.
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AI Study Notes for 灯
Quick Contrast
灯 (dēng) vs 照明 (zhàomíng) — use 灯 for specific light sources like lamps, while 照明 refers to the act of lighting or illumination in a broader sense.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing dēng; it is pronounced with a high level tone. Common collocations include '台灯' (tái dēng, table lamp) and '灯光' (dēng guāng, light). A common mistake is confusing it with '灯笼' (dēng lóng, lantern), which specifically refers to decorative lanterns.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 灯 (dēng) connects with other nouns related to everyday objects, such as 家 (jiā, home) and 桌子 (zhuōzi, table). Students should focus on using it in sentences about their living space and describing lighting conditions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 灯 with 灯笼, mistakenly using 灯 when they mean decorative lanterns. For example, saying '我买了一个灯' (wǒ mǎile yīgè dēng) instead of '我买了一个灯笼' (wǒ mǎile yīgè dēng lóng) when referring to a lantern.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 灯
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How Well Do You Know 灯?
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Learning Lab
Knowing 灯 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
灯 = 火 + 丁. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 灯
IDS Structure⿰火丁
灯Full Character
=
火Huo3
left
丁Ding1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 灯?
How to say lamp in Chinese
“lamp” in Chinese is灯dēng
The character 灯 (dēng) refers to a light source, such as a lamp or lantern. It is commonly used in various contexts, including home lighting and traditional celebrations where lanterns are lit. The character conveys the idea of illumination and is fundamental in discussing anything related to light.
When to use 灯
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing dēng; it is pronounced with a high level tone. Common collocations include '台灯' (tái dēng, table lamp) and '灯光' (dēng guāng, light). A common mistake is confusing it with '灯笼' (dēng lóng, lantern), which specifically refers to decorative lanterns.
灯 or something close to it
灯 (dēng) vs 照明 (zhàomíng) — use 灯 for specific light sources like lamps, while 照明 refers to the act of lighting or illumination in a broader sense.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 灯 with 灯笼, mistakenly using 灯 when they mean decorative lanterns. For example, saying '我买了一个灯' (wǒ mǎile yīgè dēng) instead of '我买了一个灯笼' (wǒ mǎile yīgè dēng lóng) when referring to a lantern.
Write 灯
灯
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Grammar Patterns of 灯
灯 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
The two rooms were relatively small and discreetly lit.
11
他在房间里放了一盏古色古香的台灯，增添了不少温馨的氛围。
Tā zài fángjiān lǐ fàngle yī zhǎn gǔsè gǔxiāng de táidēng, zēngtiānle bù shǎo wēnxīn de fēnwéi.
He placed an antique-style lamp in the room, adding a touch of warmth to the atmosphere.
nlight1
12
晚上，我喜欢打开台灯看书。
Wǎnshang, wǒ xǐhuan dǎkāi táidēng kàn shū.
In the evening, I like to turn on the desk lamp to read.
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Cultural Notes for 灯
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, lanterns (灯笼) are often used during festivals, such as the Lantern Festival, to symbolize hope and the arrival of spring. They are typically red, which symbolizes good luck and happiness.
Word Family of 灯
Words Containing This Character20
灯dēnglamp燈
灯光dēngguānglight燈光
红灯hóngdēngred light紅燈
灯泡dēngpàolight bulb燈泡
灯塔lighthouse燈塔
路灯lùdēngstreet lamp路燈
绿灯lǜdēnggreen light綠燈
闪光灯flash bulb (photography)閃光燈
灯笼dēnglonglantern燈籠
台灯táidēngdesk lamp檯燈
熄灯lights out熄燈
红绿灯traffic light紅綠燈
信号灯signal light信號燈
聚光灯spotlight聚光燈
电灯diàndēngelectric light電燈
灯火lights燈火
吊灯hanging lamp吊燈
幻灯片filmstrip幻燈片
电灯泡light bulb電燈泡
尾灯tail light (on vehicle)尾燈
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 灯
What does 灯光 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 灯
Some common phrases include '开灯' (kāi dēng), meaning 'turn on the light', and '关灯' (guān dēng), meaning 'turn off the light'. These phrases are useful for everyday situations when discussing lighting.
灯 (dēng) refers specifically to a physical object that emits light, like a lamp or lantern. In contrast, 光 (guāng) means 'light' in a more abstract sense, referring to the illumination itself rather than the source. Understanding this distinction can help you use both words correctly in context.
灯 (dēng) means 'lamp', 'light', or 'lantern' in Chinese. It is commonly used to refer to various types of lighting fixtures that illuminate spaces. In everyday conversation, you might hear it in phrases related to lighting or when discussing home decor.
You can use 灯 (dēng) in sentences like '这个房间需要一个灯' (Zhè ge fángjiān xūyào yīgè dēng), which means 'This room needs a lamp.' It's often combined with other words to specify the type of light or its location, such as '路灯' (lù dēng) for 'streetlight'.
灯 refers specifically to a lamp or light source, while 光 means light in a more general sense, including natural light.
No, 灯 specifically refers to artificial light sources like lamps and lanterns, not natural light.
The correct measure word is 盏 (zhǎn), so you would say 一盏灯 (yī zhǎn dēng) for one lamp.
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