灯
dēng · lantern / lamp💡 How to pronounce
d → like the 'd' in 'day'. ēng → like 'ung' in 'sung' but with a high flat tone.
📖 The Story
灯 originally meant a lamp or a light. The character combines 'fire' (火) and 'ritual vessel' (登) — fire that lights up the darkness. Lanterns are not just decoration in China — they are symbols of hope, celebration, and guidance.
🎬 In Culture Today
The Lantern Festival (元宵节) marks the end of Chinese New Year celebrations. People light lanterns, solve riddles written on them, and eat tangyuan (sweet rice balls).
📝 Example Sentences
元宵节有很多灯笼。
There are many lanterns during the Lantern Festival.
灯光很温暖。
The light is very warm.