das Rotlicht
red light
The red light of a traffic signal, which tells vehicles and pedestrians that they must stop.
EXAMPLE
Er hat das Rotlicht übersehen und einen Unfall verursacht.
He missed the red light and caused an accident.
das Rotlicht
red light
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Meanings
das Rotlicht
red-light district
Refers to the environment of prostitution. The term comes from the red lighting often used in the windows of brothels.
EXAMPLE
Die Polizei führte eine Razzia im Rotlicht durch.
The police carried out a raid in the red-light district.
das Rotlicht
red-light lamp
A lamp that emits red light and is used for therapeutic purposes, usually for heat treatment of muscle tension.
EXAMPLE
Mein Arzt hat mir bei Nackenschmerzen eine Behandlung mit Rotlicht empfohlen.
My doctor recommended treatment with a red-light lamp for my neck pain.
das Rotlicht
darkroom safelight
A special red light used in a darkroom so that photos can be developed without exposing the light-sensitive photographic paper.
EXAMPLE
In der Dunkelkammer darf nur das schwache Rotlicht brennen.
In the darkroom, only the dim red safelight may be on.
Usage tips
Compound word
The word is a simple compound made from the adjective 'rot' (red) and the noun 'Licht' (light). This literal meaning is the basis for all specific uses.
EXAMPLE
Das rote Licht der untergehenden Sonne tauchte die Landschaft in warme Farben.
The red light of the setting sun bathed the landscape in warm colors.
Context clues
Since the word has very different meanings, context is crucial. Words like 'Ampel' (traffic light) or 'Straße' (street) point to the traffic meaning (m01), 'Milieu' (milieu) or 'Viertel' (district) to prostitution (m02), and 'Lampe' (lamp) or 'Wärme' (heat) to the therapeutic use (m03).
EXAMPLE
Fahren Sie bitte erst bei Grün, das Rotlicht ist noch an.
Please only drive when the light is green; the red light is still on.
Typical collocations
In a traffic context, there are fixed expressions. You can 'ein Rotlicht überfahren' (run a red light) or 'missachten' (disregard it), and you must stop 'bei Rotlicht' (at a red light).
EXAMPLE
Wer ein Rotlicht überfährt, muss mit einer hohen Strafe rechnen.
Anyone who runs a red light must expect a heavy fine.
Fixed terms
In the meaning 'Prostitution' (prostitution), 'Rotlicht' (red light) is often used as part of compound nouns, for example 'das Rotlichtmilieu' (the red-light milieu), 'das Rotlichtviertel' (the red-light district), or 'die Rotlichtszene' (the red-light scene).
EXAMPLE
Der Journalist recherchiert für eine Reportage über das Rotlichtmilieu der Stadt.
The journalist is doing research for a report on the city's red-light milieu.
In real life
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