蜡烛

• Pinyin: là zhú
• Hanzi breakdown: 蜡 = 虫 (insect) + 昔 (phonetic) — wax; 烛 = 火 (fire) + 蜀 (Shu region) — candle

Meaning

Candle. A cylindrical piece of wax with an embedded wick, burned to provide light.

Beyond literal candles, often used metaphorically for teachers or others who sacrifice themselves to illuminate others. Also associated with birthday celebrations, romantic settings, and memorial occasions.

Examples

1. 停电了，我们只好点蜡烛照明。 The power went out, so we had to light candles for illumination.
2. 生日蛋糕上插着五根蜡烛。 There are five candles on the birthday cake.
3. 她喜欢在浴室里点香薰蜡烛放松。 She likes to light scented candles in the bathroom to relax.

Usage Guide

Context: lighting, celebrations, ambiance

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 蜡烛的光很温暖。(Candlelight is very warm.)
• 老师被比喻为燃烧自己的蜡烛。(Teachers are compared to candles that burn themselves.)

Don't Say

• 把所有照明工具都叫蜡烛。(蜡烛 specifically refers to wax candles — use 灯 for electric lights)

Origin & History

Compound of 蜡 (wax) + 烛 (candle/torch). 烛 originally meant torch; combined with 蜡 specifically refers to wax candles.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal