Definitions

zhǎn a small cup; classifier for lamps

Etymology

A small  dish  also provides the pronunciation

About

The character "盏" derives from its traditional form "盞", structured with the vessel-indicating radical "皿" and the phonetic component "戔", which together originally signified a small wine cup. Through structural simplification, the phonetic part was reduced to "戋", resulting in the contemporary form "盏" while preserving the semantic association with containers. Its meaning gradually extended from referring specifically to wine vessels to including any small cup or bowl, and it further evolved to serve as a measure word for lamps and lights, thereby broadening its application from tangible drinking vessels to units of illumination in modern usage.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

桌上有一灯。

Zhuō shàng yǒu yī zhǎn dēng.

There is a lamp on the table.

妈妈点了一灯。

Māma diǎn le yī zhǎn dēng.

Mom lit a lamp.

灯很明亮。

Zhè zhǎn dēng hěn míngliàng.

This lamp is very bright.

我需要一新台灯。

Wǒ xūyào yī zhǎn xīn táidēng.

I need a new desk lamp.

他买了一复古油灯。

Tā mǎi le yī zhǎn fùgǔ yóudēng.

He bought a retro oil lamp.

路灯都照亮了街道。

Měi zhǎn lùdēng dōu zhàoliàng le jiēdào.

Every street lamp illuminates the street.

水晶吊灯非常昂贵。

Zhè zhǎn shuǐjīng diàodēng fēicháng ángguì.

This crystal chandelier is very expensive.

在漆黑的夜晚,一孤灯带来了温暖。

Zài qīhēi de yèwǎn, yī zhǎn gū dēng dàilái le wēnnuǎn.

In the pitch-black night, a lonely lamp brings warmth.