Chinese lantern
1
4.0
- noun
:
farol chino
- We decorated the garden with beautiful Chinese lanterns for the festive celebration.
- Chinese lanterns hanging
Examples
-
One by one, the Chinese lanterns were extinguished, and Carly and Hammy were left with only their two penlights in the darkness.
Fiction book (1995) -
Rick aimed the 9mm at the Chinese lanterns bobbing in the wind, making pow-pow sounds like he had a silencer.
Fiction book (1995) -
I'm gonna get some trees and some Chinese lanterns.
Fiction book (2001) -
Chinese lanterns sway in the breeze.
Fiction book (1998) -
Whippy Bird says there never were Chinese lanterns at Columbia Gardens, but this is my story, and I'm telling it my way.
Fiction book (1990) -
The pier was hung with Chinese lanterns; punts bobbed on the water.
Fiction book (1997) -
"The wind had kicked up, sending the Chinese lanterns bobbing, yellow and blue and green spotlights scooting across the lawn.
Fiction book (1995) -
"So many UFO sightings these days are attributable to Chinese lanterns that more interesting sightings are sometimes overlooked.
Blog text (26) -
In the center rose a large oak tree with spreading branches, hung with Chinese lanterns, beneath which stood a scattering of slatted wooden benches.
Fiction book (1993) -
Lillian's house was having a party, with Chinese lanterns hanging along with the Spanish moss on the low limbs of the live oaks; they shone on the water.
Fiction book (1995)
Synonyms
113
1.0
A small portable light with a clear cover that you can carry or hang
A paper lantern hung as a decoration at festivals and parties
Surface Forms
Morphology
Chinese + lantern
The phrase denotes a lantern that is Chinese or in a Chinese style, so its meaning is directly compositional from 'Chinese' (relating to China) + 'lantern' (a lighted container). This is a straightforward modifier + noun compound that a B1 learner who knows both words can readily infer, especially since similar compounds and the cultural object exist across languages.
Etymology
Chinese lantern comes from the paper lanterns used in China for festivals. They were bright paper lamps on a thin frame that could fold, so the phrase now means 'a decorative lantern that can fold and is used for celebrations'.