hurricane lamp; fickleness
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesnoun
hurricane lamp; barn lantern
A portable, windproof kerosene lamp, traditionally used by travelers on horseback at night. It could be hung on a saddle or carried by hand.
Tā他
tí提
zhe着
mǎ马
dēng灯
zài在
qī漆
hēi黑
de的
yè夜
lǐ里
gǎn赶
lù路
。
He traveled on the road in the pitch-dark night, carrying a hurricane lamp.
Zhè这
zhī支
tàn探
xiǎn险
duì队
zhuāng装
bèi备
le了
jǐ几
zhǎn盏
lǎo老
shì式
de的
mǎ马
dēng灯
。
This expedition team equipped themselves with several old-style hurricane lamps.
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Mǎ马
dēng灯
zài在
nà那
ge个
méi没
yǒu有
diàn电
de的
nián年
dài代
hěn很
cháng常
jiàn见
。
Hurricane lamps were very common in that era without electricity.
noun
turnabout; fickleness; inconsistency
literaryMetaphorical use derived from the lamp's swinging motion when hung on a moving horse. Often used in the phrase "走马灯" (revolving lantern).
Tā他
de的
zhǔ主
yì意
biàn变
de得
xiàng像
mǎ马
dēng灯
shì似
de的
。
His ideas change as quickly as a revolving lantern.
Zhè这
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
gāo高
guǎn管
gēng更
huàn换
rú如
zǒu走
mǎ马
dēng灯
。
The executives at this company change like a revolving lantern.