电灯泡

電燈泡

diàndēngpào

noun #14,757

Meanings

1 light bulb
2 (slang) third wheel (unwanted person tagging along with a couple)

Characters

Examples

电灯泡坏了，需要换一个。

Diàndēngpào huài le, xūyào huàn yīgè.

The light bulb is broken and needs to be replaced.

我不想当电灯泡，你们俩去吧。

Wǒ bù xiǎng dāng diàndēngpào, nǐmen liǎ qù ba.

I don't want to be a third wheel — you two go ahead.

Tips

culture

The slang meaning 'third wheel' comes from the idea that a light bulb is bright and conspicuous — just like an extra person awkwardly present during a date.

Stroke Order

电 diàn

灯 dēng

泡 pào