上光 (shàng guāng) — to glaze (pottery, ceramics); to polish (shoes, furniture)

Definition

A technical verb meaning to apply a glossy coating — most often in ceramics (glazing) and in shoe/furniture care (polishing). The result of 上光 is a shiny surface layer.

verb
to glaze (pottery, ceramics)to polish (shoes, furniture)

Examples

  • 上光。
    Zhè jiàn cí qì xū yào shàng guāng cái néng gèng liàng.
    This piece of porcelain needs to be glazed to be shinier.
  • 。
    Tā gěi zhè ge huā píng shàng le yī céng guāng.
    He applied a layer of glaze to this vase.
  • ，。
    Zhè shuāng pí xié gāng shàng le guāng, kàn qǐ lái tè bié liàng.
    These leather shoes have just been polished and look especially shiny.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

上shàngapply
光guānggloss

上光 combines 上 apply and 光 gloss, meaning to put on a smooth shiny layer.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

上 is drawn as a short horizontal line placed above a longer arc, marking a position above that arc.

Open 上 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 火火huǒfire
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

The shape 光 places 火 (fire) above 卩 (a kneeling person), showing fire over the head and the shining of light.

Open 光 →

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