zhǎn: 盏 - Cup, Lamp, Measure Word for Lamps or Small Cups
Quick Summary
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Summary: Discover the meaning of 盏 (zhǎn), a classic and elegant Chinese measure word (classifier) used for lamps and small, traditional cups. While the modern word for cup is often 杯 (bēi), 盏 (zhǎn) is essential for talking about lights (一盏灯, yì zhǎn dēng) and adds a poetic or traditional flavor when referring to tea (一盏茶, yì zhǎn chá). This guide breaks down its cultural significance in tea ceremonies, its practical usage in modern Chinese, and how to use it correctly without confusing it with other terms.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): zhǎn
Part of Speech: Measure Word / Noun
HSK Level: N/A
Concise Definition: A measure word for lamps or small cups; a small cup or lamp itself.
In a Nutshell: Think of 盏 (zhǎn) as a more specific and often more traditional version of “cup” or a universal measure word for “lamp.” While you'd use the general word 杯 (bēi) for a glass of water or a mug of coffee, you'd use 盏 (zhǎn) for a small, handle-less teacup or, most commonly, for any kind of lamp or light source, from a desk lamp to a lighthouse beacon. It carries a sense of tradition, elegance, and smallness.
Character Breakdown
盏 (zhǎn): This character is a combination of a phonetic component and a semantic (meaning) component.
Top: 占 (zhàn) provides the approximate sound for the character.
Bottom: 皿 (mǐn) is the radical for “dish” or “vessel.”
Together, they form a character that represents a type of small vessel or dish, perfectly aligning with its meaning as a small cup.
Cultural Context and Significance
盏 (zhǎn) is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese culture, particularly in the realms of tea and classical literature. Its usage evokes a specific aesthetic that is more refined and historical than its modern counterparts.
Tea Culture: In the context of tea (茶, chá), using 一盏茶 (yì zhǎn chá) instead of 一杯茶 (yì bēi chá) elevates the experience. It implies a smaller, more delicate teacup (often called a 茶盏, chá zhǎn), the kind used in a traditional Gongfu tea ceremony. It paints a picture of mindful sipping and appreciation, rather than just quenching thirst.
Western Comparison: A useful analogy is the difference between a “glass” and a “goblet” or “chalice” in English. You drink water from a “glass,” but you might drink ceremonial wine from a “goblet.” The object is similar, but the word choice carries significant cultural and historical weight. 盏 (zhǎn) is the “goblet” of Chinese cups—more poetic, more traditional, and used in specific contexts.
A Light in the Darkness: The character's connection to lamps (灯, dēng) is also significant. Historically, light came from oil lamps, which used a small dish or vessel (a 盏) to hold the oil and wick. This physical origin cemented 盏 as the go-to measure word for any lamp, a usage that continues to this day for everything from desk lamps to chandeliers. Metaphorically, 一盏明灯 (yì zhǎn míngdēng) means “a bright lamp” or “a guiding light,” referring to an inspiring person or idea.
Practical Usage in Modern China
In daily conversation, the use of 盏 (zhǎn) is quite specific. It is not an all-purpose measure word for drinks.
For Lamps (Very Common): This is the most frequent and standard use of 盏 in modern Chinese. It is the correct and only common measure word for lamps.
一盏灯 (yì zhǎn dēng): a lamp
这盏台灯 (zhè zhǎn táidēng): this desk lamp
For Tea/Alcohol (Stylistic/Poetic): Using 盏 for tea or alcohol is a conscious stylistic choice. It's common in literature, historical dramas, teahouses, or when someone wants to sound more refined.
请喝一盏茶。(Qǐng hē yì zhǎn chá.): Please have a cup of tea. (Sounds more formal and polite than using 杯).
对饮三盏酒。(Duì yǐn sān zhǎn jiǔ.): To drink three cups of wine together. (Has a very classical, literary feel).
As a Noun: Less common in conversation, but it appears in compound words to mean “cup” or “lamp.”
茶盏 (chá zhǎn): teacup (specifically a traditional, small one)
酒盏 (jiǔ zhǎn): wine cup (with a classical feel)
灯盏 (dēng zhǎn): the shade or bowl part of a lamp
Example Sentences
Example 1:
房间里只有一盏昏暗的灯。
Pinyin: Fángjiān lǐ zhǐyǒu yì zhǎn hūn'àn de dēng.
English: There is only one dim lamp in the room.
Analysis: This is the most standard, everyday use of 盏 as a measure word for a lamp (灯).
English: Waiter, please bring us a cup of high-quality Longjing tea.
Analysis: Here, using 盏 instead of 杯 (bēi) adds a touch of sophistication and shows an appreciation for the tea culture. This is common in a traditional teahouse setting.
Example 3:
他的话就像一盏指路明灯，照亮了我前进的方向。
Pinyin: Tā de huà jiù xiàng yì zhǎn zhǐ lù míngdēng, zhàoliàng le wǒ qiánjìn de fāngxiàng.
English: His words were like a guiding light, illuminating the path forward for me.
Analysis: A classic metaphorical use. The “guiding light” (指路明灯) uses 盏 as its measure word, emphasizing the idea of a single, powerful source of guidance.
Example 4:
我们坐下来，喝了一盏茶的工夫，然后就离开了。
Pinyin: Wǒmen zuò xiàlái, hē le yì zhǎn chá de gōngfu, ránhòu jiù líkāi le.
English: We sat down, spent about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and then left.
Analysis: This uses the common idiom 一盏茶的工夫 (yì zhǎn chá de gōngfu), which means “a short period of time.”
Example 5:
书桌上放着一盏很漂亮的台灯。
Pinyin: Shūzhuō shàng fàngzhe yì zhǎn hěn piàoliang de táidēng.
English: There is a very beautiful desk lamp on the desk.
Analysis: Another straightforward example showing 盏 used for a specific type of lamp, a desk lamp (台灯).
Example 6:
这个宋代的茶盏是一个非常珍贵的文物。
Pinyin: Zhè ge Sòng dài de cházhǎn shì yí ge fēicháng zhēnguì de wénwù.
English: This Song Dynasty teacup is a very precious cultural relic.
Analysis: Here, 盏 is used as part of the noun 茶盏 (chá zhǎn), meaning “teacup.” This highlights its use in describing historical or artistic objects.
English: Ancient poets often used a single, lonely lamp to express feelings of loneliness.
Analysis: This sentence demonstrates the poetic and literary connotation of 盏. 一盏孤灯 (yì zhǎn gūdēng), “a lone lamp,” is a powerful image in Chinese poetry.
Example 8:
爷爷给我倒了一盏他自己泡的菊花茶。
Pinyin: Yéye gěi wǒ dào le yì zhǎn tā zìjǐ pào de júhuā chá.
English: Grandpa poured me a cup of the chrysanthemum tea he brewed himself.
Analysis: The use of 盏 here feels warm and traditional, fitting for a scenario with an elder sharing a culturally significant beverage.
Example 9:
街角的每一盏路灯都亮着。
Pinyin: Jiējiǎo de měi yì zhǎn lùdēng dōu liàng zhe.
English: Every single streetlight on the corner is on.
Analysis: This shows that 盏 applies to all types of lamps, including modern ones like streetlights (路灯).
Example 10:
武松连喝了十八盏酒，然后上了景阳冈。
Pinyin: Wǔ Sōng lián hē le shí bā zhǎn jiǔ, ránhòu shàng le Jǐngyánggāng.
English: Wu Song drank eighteen consecutive cups of alcohol before heading up Jingyang Ridge.
Analysis: This is a famous line from the classic novel “Water Margin.” Using 盏 for alcohol (酒) is characteristic of classical or historical texts. In modern conversation, one would likely use 杯 (bēi).
Nuances and Common Mistakes
The Biggest Mistake: Overusing 盏 for Drinks.
A beginner's most common error is to think 盏 is a general-purpose word for “cup.” It is not. You cannot use it for modern beverages in everyday contexts.
Incorrect: 我想喝一盏可乐。(Wǒ xiǎng hē yì zhǎn kělè.) - I want to drink a cup of Coke.
Incorrect: 给我一盏咖啡。(Gěi wǒ yì zhǎn kāfēi.) - Give me a cup of coffee.
Correct: For these, you must use 杯 (bēi): 一杯可乐 (yì bēi kělè), 一杯咖啡 (yì bēi kāfēi).
盏 (zhǎn) vs. 杯 (bēi) vs. 碗 (wǎn)
盏 (zhǎn): The specialist. Use it for any lamp. Use it for tea or wine if you want to sound traditional, poetic, or formal. It implies a small, often handle-less cup.
杯 (bēi): The generalist. This is your default, modern measure word for a “cup” or “glass” of any beverage (water, juice, coffee, beer, etc.). It can be a mug, a glass, or a plastic cup.
碗 (wǎn): The bowl. Use this for things you eat from a bowl, like rice (一碗饭, yì wǎn fàn) or soup (一碗汤, yì wǎn tāng). In some specific contexts (like historical dramas or certain tea traditions), people might drink from a bowl, but as a learner, you should reserve it for food.
Related Terms and Concepts
* 杯 (bēi) - The modern, general-purpose measure word for “cup” or “glass.” The most direct counterpart to 盏.
* 灯 (dēng) - The noun for “lamp” or “light,” which almost always uses 盏 as its measure word.
* 茶 (chá) - The noun for “tea.” Using 盏 with tea adds a layer of cultural and traditional significance.
* 碗 (wǎn) - A “bowl.” Used for food like rice and soup; helps differentiate vessel types.
* 量词 (liàngcí) - The grammatical term for “measure word” or “classifier,” which is the primary function of 盏.
* 茶盏 (chá zhǎn) - A compound noun meaning “teacup,” specifically a traditional one.
* 酒盏 (jiǔ zhǎn) - A compound noun meaning “wine cup,” with a distinctly classical or poetic feel.
* 一盏茶的工夫 (yì zhǎn chá de gōngfu) - A common idiom meaning “in a short while” or “the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.”