The present disclosure provides a driving system for a semiconductor light source and a semiconductor lighting device. The driving system comprises: a transformer, the transformer comprising a first coil (201) and a second coil (202) mutually coupled to each other, the second coil (202) being used for receiving an input voltage; a switching device which is connected in series to the second coil (202) and used for controlling energy storage and energy release of the second coil (202); and an outputting device which is connected in parallel to the second coil (202) and used for supplying power to the semiconductor light source. An induced signal is generated on the first coil of the transformer due to a coupling effect between the first coil and the second coil and is used for controlling the switching-on and switching-off of the switching device.