电灯

• Pinyin: diàn dēng
• Hanzi breakdown: 电 = simplified from 電, representing lightning; 灯 = 火 (fire) + 丁 (phonetic component)

Meaning

Electric light; lamp. A device that produces light using electricity.

A general term for any electric lighting device, including ceiling lights, desk lamps, and floor lamps. In modern conversation, 灯 alone is more commonly used, but 电灯 is still standard and appears frequently in written Chinese and formal speech.

Examples

1. 天黑了，快把电灯打开。 It's dark — hurry and turn on the light.
2. 这个房间的电灯坏了，需要换一个。 The light in this room is broken and needs to be replaced.
3. 睡觉前别忘了关电灯。 Don't forget to turn off the light before going to bed.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, home

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请帮我开一下电灯。(Please turn on the light for me.)
• 客厅的电灯太暗了。(The living room light is too dim.)

Don't Say

• 把路灯叫'电灯' (Don't call a street light 电灯 — use 路灯 for street lights; 电灯 typically refers to indoor lights)

Origin & History

Compound of 电 (electricity) and 灯 (lamp). Coined during the introduction of electric lighting to China to distinguish from traditional oil lamps.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal