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照明 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
照明zhàomínglightingHSK 6, unknown, 21 strokes, rank #15274, Hard
照明zhàomíngilluminationHSK 6, unknown, 21 strokes, rank #15274, Hard
zhàomíng(zhao4ming2)zhao ming T4
  1. 1lighting
  2. 2illumination
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March 24, 2026

照明zhàomíng(zhao4ming2)

照明 (zhàomíng) refers to lighting or illumination, typically in the context of providing light for visibility in spaces. It is commonly used in both residential and commercial settings, and encompasses various forms of artificial lighting, including lamps, overhead lights, and natural light considerations.

Strokes21Frequency#15274DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, proper lighting is often linked to feng shui principles, which emphasize the importance of light in creating harmonious living spaces. Good lighting is considered essential for both aesthetics and well-being.

Memory tip

Imagine a bright '照' (zhào) light shining down, illuminating the '明' (míng) path ahead. The character '照' looks like a sun shining, while '明' means bright, helping you remember that '照明' is all about making things bright and visible.

Meanings of 照明

zhàomíng(zhao4ming2)
1lighting
2illumination
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 照明

照明Simplified
21Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 照明

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Podcast: 照明

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AI study notes for 照明

Quick Contrast

照明 (zhàomíng) vs 照亮 (zhàoliàng) — use 照明 when referring to the general concept of lighting, while 照亮 focuses on the act of illuminating a specific area or object.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 照明 with similar terms like 灯光 (dēngguāng), which specifically refers to the light emitted by lamps. '照明' is a more general term used in both formal and informal contexts, often appearing in discussions about architecture or design. Ensure the correct tones are used, as mispronouncing can alter the meaning significantly.

HSK Study Tips

While 照明 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it relates to HSK level 3 terms like 光 (guāng, light) and 明 (míng, bright). Students should focus on understanding its usage in context, especially in sentences involving home and office environments.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 照明 with related but distinct words. For example, using it in place of 照相 (zhàoxiàng, to take a photograph) is incorrect. Remember that 照明 specifically refers to lighting.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 照明

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Component characters

照zhàoto shine
HSK 313 strokes灬
View full entry
明míngMing Dynasty (1368-1644)
HSK 18 strokes日
View full entry

How to say lighting in Chinese

“lighting” in Chinese is照明zhàomíng

照明 (zhàomíng) refers to lighting or illumination, typically in the context of providing light for visibility in spaces. It is commonly used in both residential and commercial settings, and encompasses various forms of artificial lighting, including lamps, overhead lights, and natural light considerations.

When to use 照明

Be cautious not to confuse 照明 with similar terms like 灯光 (dēngguāng), which specifically refers to the light emitted by lamps. '照明' is a more general term used in both formal and informal contexts, often appearing in discussions about architecture or design. Ensure the correct tones are used, as mispronouncing can alter the meaning significantly.

照明 or something close to it

照明 (zhàomíng) vs 照亮 (zhàoliàng) — use 照明 when referring to the general concept of lighting, while 照亮 focuses on the act of illuminating a specific area or object.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 照明 with related but distinct words. For example, using it in place of 照相 (zhàoxiàng, to take a photograph) is incorrect. Remember that 照明 specifically refers to lighting.

Write 照明

照
明

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Frequently asked questions about 照明

照明 refers to the general concept of lighting, while 灯光 specifically means the light emitted from a lamp.

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