loeng6 hung4 dang1亮紅燈亮红灯

Jyutpingloeng6 hung4 dang1

Yaleleuhng hùhng dāng

Definition

To light up red; to show a red warning light, indicating danger, failure, or a critical state.

traffic light turns red
figurativeto show a red warning light, indicating failure, danger, or crisis

colloquialtransport

How it's used

This phrase is used to describe the specific moment a traffic light changes to red, often implying a need to halt movement. It is frequently used metaphorically in professional or social contexts to signal that a project or situation has hit a critical stop or a warning threshold. Unlike formal descriptions, it captures the immediate visual change of the signal.

Examples

cin4前min6面lou6路hau2口loeng6亮hung4紅dang1燈，faai3快di1啲ting4停dai1低laa1啦。

The intersection ahead has a red light, stop quickly.

dim2點gaai2解gaa3架ce1車zung6仲mei6未haang4行？hai6係mai6咪loeng6亮hung4紅dang1燈aa4呀？

Why is the car still not moving? Is the light red?

Common phrases

loeng6亮hung4紅dang1燈ting4停dai1低

stop when the light turns red

Common mistake

Learners often confuse this with the general term for a red light, 紅綠燈, which refers to the entire traffic light signal device rather than the action of the light changing color.