<p>I think 点蜡烛 is more common as it is more used in daily speaking. 点燃蜡烛 is more formal to me and sounds like written Chinese.</p>

<p>I come from HK so I am not sure the usage in other places.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-19T05:57:28.950Z
You can also say 點著蠟燭 [diǎnzháo làzhú] (to light a candle).
rramphal
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-20T10:09:59.373Z
The 著 in 點著蠟燭 means "already", which makes the whole thing "lit a candle / some candles already", so use this phrase depends on the context.
Pete C.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-20T10:17:57.743Z
^ That's only one of the meanings. Of course you can say 去點著蠟燭 "Go light some candles already". In that case, the candles are not lit. So, depends.
Pete C.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-19T05:10:07.967Z
2014-09-19T05:10:07.967Z
Pete C.
<p>点蜡烛is an imperative sentence
I like to say 点一下蜡烛，if I ask someone to light the candle.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-19T09:57:42.077Z
2014-09-19T09:57:42.077Z
piupiu
<p>点燃 is sth seems more like <em>light ... to make it burn</em>. And since candles will not literally be <strong>on fire</strong> (燃), it is improper to say so.</p>

<p>The structure is like "I <strong>knock</strong>-ed him <strong>unconscious</strong>." (我 <strong>打晕</strong> 了他。). Literally "I hit him to make him faint".</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-20T02:34:39.410Z
2014-09-20T02:34:39.410Z
Joseph S WU
<p>点蜡烛 is more common.</p>

<p>点 means "to light", 燃 means "to light/ burn".</p>

<p>We need efficient communication in daily life, therefore, 点蜡烛 is okay.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-20T09:34:47.253Z
2014-09-20T09:34:47.253Z
Kiddy
<p>I'm trying to figure out the most appropriate way to say "light a candle" would it be 点蜡烛  or would 点燃蜡烛 be more commonly heard?  </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-19T04:52:48.413Z
Both can be OK. The 2nd way is more normal.
xqMogvKW
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-19T10:35:17.283Z
点蜡烛 - light a candle; 点燃蜡烛 - light _up_ a candle
杨以轩
<vocabulary><word-requests>
How to say “to light a candle"
# How to say “to light a candle"

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-09-19)

I'm trying to figure out the most appropriate way to say "light a candle" would it be 点蜡烛 or would 点燃蜡烛 be more commonly heard?

**Tags:** vocabulary, word-requests

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Both can be OK. The 2nd way is more normal.  
> **username_2**: 点蜡烛 - light a candle; 点燃蜡烛 - light _up_ a candle  

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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-09-19. Score: 6

I think 点蜡烛 is more common as it is more used in daily speaking. 点燃蜡烛 is more formal to me and sounds like written Chinese.

I come from HK so I am not sure the usage in other places.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: You can also say 點著蠟燭 [diǎnzháo làzhú] (to light a candle).  
> **username_3**: The 著 in 點著蠟燭 means "already", which makes the whole thing "lit a candle / some candles already", so use this phrase depends on the context.  
> **username_3**: ^ That's only one of the meanings. Of course you can say 去點著蠟燭 "Go light some candles already". In that case, the candles are not lit. So, depends.  

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### Answer by username_5 on 2014-09-19. Score: 1

点蜡烛is an imperative sentence
I like to say 点一下蜡烛，if I ask someone to light the candle.


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### Answer by username_6 on 2014-09-20. Score: 0

点燃 is sth seems more like *light ... to make it burn*. And since candles will not literally be **on fire** (燃), it is improper to say so.

The structure is like "I **knock**-ed him **unconscious**." (我 **打晕** 了他。). Literally "I hit him to make him faint".


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### Answer by username_7 on 2014-09-20. Score: 0

点蜡烛 is more common.

点 means "to light", 燃 means "to light/ burn".

We need efficient communication in daily life, therefore, 点蜡烛 is okay.


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