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红灯 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
红灯hóngdēngred lightHSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #6730, Very Hard
hóngdēng(hong2deng1) T2
  1. 1red light
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March 24, 2026

红灯(紅燈)hóngdēng(hong2deng1)

红灯 (hóng dēng) refers to a red traffic light, signaling vehicles and pedestrians to stop. It is commonly used in urban settings as an essential component of traffic control, indicating safety and caution.

Strokes12Frequency#6730DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, traffic lights like 红灯 are critical for maintaining order in busy cities, reflecting the importance of safety and discipline in public life. The color red also symbolizes good fortune and happiness, which adds a layer of cultural significance to the red light.

Memory Tip

Imagine a bright red 'honk' from a car, signaling to you that it’s time to 'stop' at the 'light.' The character 红 (hóng) looks like a bright, fiery color, while 灯 (dēng) resembles a lamp illuminating the way, both combining to create the concept of a red light signaling caution.

Meanings of 红灯

hóngdēng(hong2deng1)
1red light
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About 红灯

红灯Simplified
紅燈Traditional
12Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 红灯

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Podcast: 红灯

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AI Study Notes for 红灯

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 红灯 with 绿灯 (lǜ dēng), which means green light. This term is more common in formal contexts like traffic regulations, but can also be used informally in conversations about driving. Remember that the tones are crucial: 红 (hóng) and 灯 (dēng) must be pronounced correctly.

HSK Study Tips

For HSK learners, 红灯 is relevant at HSK 2, where learners are expected to comprehend basic traffic vocabulary. Focus on the characters 红 and 灯 separately, as they are also used in other contexts, such as 红色 (hóngsè - red color) and 灯光 (dēngguāng - lamp light).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 红灯 with 绿灯 (lǜ dēng) and might say '停在绿灯' when they mean to refer to stopping at a red light. Remember to use the correct color when talking about traffic signals.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 红灯

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Component Characters

红hóngred
HSK 56 strokes纟
View full entry
灯dēnglamp
HSK 36 strokes火
View full entry

How to say red light in Chinese

“red light” in Chinese is红灯hóngdēng

红灯 (hóng dēng) refers to a red traffic light, signaling vehicles and pedestrians to stop. It is commonly used in urban settings as an essential component of traffic control, indicating safety and caution.

When to use 红灯

Be careful not to confuse 红灯 with 绿灯 (lǜ dēng), which means green light. This term is more common in formal contexts like traffic regulations, but can also be used informally in conversations about driving. Remember that the tones are crucial: 红 (hóng) and 灯 (dēng) must be pronounced correctly.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 红灯 with 绿灯 (lǜ dēng) and might say '停在绿灯' when they mean to refer to stopping at a red light. Remember to use the correct color when talking about traffic signals.

Write 红灯

红
灯

Practice writing 红灯 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 红灯

It means 'red light,' typically referring to a traffic signal that instructs vehicles and pedestrians to stop.

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