余晖 (yú huī) — twilight; afterglow (of the setting sun)

Definition

A literary noun for the fading glow or afterglow of the setting sun — the warm light left in the sky at dusk. Often used in writing for atmosphere rather than everyday speech.

noun
twilightafterglow (of the setting sun)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 余晖，。
    Luò rì de yú huī sǎ zài hú miàn shàng, měi jí le.
    The afterglow of the setting sun spread across the lake, incredibly beautiful.
  • ，，余晖。
    Tā tuì xiū hòu, yī rán zài shè qū fú wù, sàn fā zhe rén shēng de yú huī.
    After retirement, he still serves the community, radiating the twilight of his life.
  • 余晖。
    Huáng hūn de yú huī bǎ tiān kōng rǎn chéng le jú hóng sè.
    The twilight of dusk dyed the sky orange-red.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

余yúremaining
晖huīsunlight

余 (remaining) and 晖 (sunlight) describe the lingering glow after sunset.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 餘; 余 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
食食shí
Sound part声符shēngfú
余
余yú餘Yú
Same sound today

The traditional form 餘 pairs 食 (food) with 余 as its sound part; the simplified 余 is a later abbreviation.

Open 余 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 暉; 晖 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
日日rìSun
Sound part声符shēngfú
軍
軍jūn暉huī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 暉 pairs 日 (Sun) with 軍 for its sound; the simplified 晖 is a later shorthand.

Open 晖 →

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