lên đèn
Definition
Verb phrase:
- To light the lamps: The literal meaning refers to the act of turning on or lighting lamps, typically at dusk.
- For the lights to come on: Describes the moment when street lights or city lights are switched on at nightfall.
Verb phrase (figurative):
- To begin operation (of entertainment venues): Used historically to describe theaters, cinemas, or performance houses opening for the evening, signaled by lighting their lamps.
- To start a show / to begin: By extension, can refer to the start of an evening's entertainment or activity.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Trời vừa tối, cả thành phố đã lên đèn. (As soon as it got dark, the whole city lit up.)
- Ngày xưa, rạp hát lên đèn lúc bảy giờ tối. (In the old days, the theater would light its lamps at seven p.m.)
Advanced Usage
- This phrase often evokes a sense of routine, tradition, or the specific transition from day to night in a communal setting.
Variants and Related Words
- Thắp đèn (v): to light a lamp. This is a more general verb for the action.
- Bà tôi thắp đèn dầu mỗi tối. (My grandmother lights an oil lamp every evening.)
Synonyms
- To illuminate: to light up.
- To turn on the lights: the modern equivalent for electric lights.
Related Idioms
- While "lên đèn" itself is idiomatic, it is sometimes used in the expression "giờ lên đèn" (lighting-up time), referring to the appointed evening hour.
- "Giờ lên đèn" của nhà hát là một sự kiện quan trọng. (The theater's "lighting-up time" was an important event.)