红灯

• Pinyin: hóng dēng
• Hanzi breakdown: 红 = 纟(silk/thread radical) + 工 (work/phonetic) — red thread/dye; 灯 = 火 (fire) + 丁 (phonetic) — fire in a vessel, a lamp

Meaning

Red light; red traffic signal. Literally: a red lamp or traffic stop light. Figuratively: a warning signal, prohibition, or alert indicating a serious problem.

红灯 is widely used both literally (traffic light: 闯红灯 — to run a red light) and figuratively (亮红灯 — to show a red light, meaning to issue an official warning or flag a critical problem). 亮红灯 and 拉响红灯 are common figurative phrases in journalism and management contexts. The contrast with 绿灯 (green light — approval/go-ahead) is important and widely exploited in figurative language.

Examples

1. 该路段是交通事故高发地点，即便遇到深夜无车通行，司机也绝不应该无视红灯强行驶过。 This stretch of road sees frequent accidents; even late at night when no cars seem to be coming, drivers should never run a red light.
2. 审计报告向管理层亮起了红灯，指出公司财务状况出现多项异常指标，需要立即采取针对性的整改措施。 The audit report raised a red flag for management, pointing out multiple abnormal indicators in the company’s finances and calling for immediate corrective action.
3. 环保部门就该工厂的排放问题接连亮出红灯，明确警告若再不整改将依法强制停产处理。 Over the factory’s emissions issues, environmental authorities repeatedly raised red flags and clearly warned that if it still failed to fix the problems, they would order a shutdown under the law.

Usage Guide

Context: traffic, safety, regulation, management, figurative warnings

Tone: cautionary

Do Say

• 根据最新统计数据，本市因闯红灯引发的交通事故数量在过去两年内下降了逾三成，交通执法力度显著加强。(According to the latest statistics, the number of traffic accidents caused by running red lights in the city has dropped by more than 30% over the past two years, reflecting a significant strengthening of traffic law enforcement.)
• 这份财报向所有投资者亮起了明显的红灯，核心利润指标的持续下滑已经表明企业存在不容忽视的经营危机。(This financial report has shown a clear red light to all investors — the sustained decline in core profit indicators has signalled a business crisis that cannot be ignored.)

Don't Say

• 红灯 for any general obstacle or difficulty — the figurative use specifically implies an official warning, prohibition, or critical alert signal; use 障碍 or 困难 for general obstacles

Origin & History

红 (red; the signal colour for danger or prohibition) + 灯 (lamp; light)

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal