灯火阑珊处

燈火闌珊處

dēnghuǒ lánshān chù

quotation

Meanings

1 where the lights fade and grow sparse
2 a quiet place apart from the bustle
3 famous line by Xin Qiji evoking unexpected discovery

Characters

Examples

HSK 4

他终于在灯火阑珊处找到了答案。

Tā zhōngyú zài dēnghuǒlánshānchù zhǎodào le dá'àn.

He finally found the answer in that quiet place where the lights grow dim.

HSK 7-9

众里寻他千百度，蓦然回首，那人却在灯火阑珊处。

Zhònglǐxúntāqiānbǎidù, mò rán huíshǒu, nà rén què zài dēnghuǒlánshānchù.

A thousand searches in the crowd - then suddenly I turn, and there she is, where the lanterns fade.

Tips

history

From the Southern Song poet Xin Qiji 辛弃疾 's 《青玉案·元夕》: 众里寻他千百度, 蓦然回首, 那人却在灯火阑珊处. It describes the joy of suddenly spotting one’s beloved amid the Lantern Festival crowds. Wang Guowei 王国维 later cited the line as the third and highest "stage" of great achievement in his 《人间词话》.

usage

阑珊 means "waning, growing sparse". The line is often used as a metaphor for finding an answer in an unexpected place after a long search.

Stroke Order

灯 dēng

火 huǒ

阑 lán

珊 shān

处 chǔ