Chinese word

蜡烛

Pronunciation

Pinyinlà zhú

Meaning

  • nouncandle

Example

生日蛋糕上插着几根蜡烛。shēng rì dàn gāo shàng chā zhe jǐ gēn là zhú

Several candles are stuck in the birthday cake.

Illustration for 蜡烛 (candle)

More examples

台灯坏了，他在抽屉里找出一根蜡烛点着。tái dēng huài le tā zài chōu tì lǐ zhǎo chū yì gēn là zhú diǎn zháo

The desk lamp broke, so he found a candle in the drawer and lit it.

Core concept

A slender wax body around a wick that gives off a small, steady light when lit.

Common phrases

  • 点燃蜡烛diǎn rán là zhú

    light a candle

  • 吹灭蜡烛chuī miè là zhú

    blow out a candle

  • 一根蜡烛yì gēn là zhú

    a candle

Similar words

灯dēng: A device that gives light from electricity or a flame.
蜡là: A solid material made from beeswax or other waxes and used to make candles.

Definition in Chinese

用蜂蜡或其他蜡料制成，点燃后由灯芯燃烧发出光亮，常用于照明、庆祝或营造气氛的器物。yòng fēng là huò qí tā là liào zhì chéng diǎn rán hòu yóu dēng xīn rán shāo fā chū guāng liàng cháng yòng yú zhào míng qìng zhù huò yíng zào qì fēn de qì wù

Word origin

蜡烛 (làzhú, "candle") combines 蜡 (là, "wax") with 烛 (zhú, "candle or lamp"), naming a light-giving object by its material and function.

Usage tips

  • The measure word 根 (gēn, "for long, thin objects") commonly counts candles, so a number is naturally followed by this measure word rather than by the noun alone.

Opposites

Related words

  • 蜡烛店là zhú diàncandle shopnoun
  • 蜡烛厂là zhú chǎngcandle factorynoun

Word lists with this word