光芒 (guāng máng) — radiance; brilliant rays of light | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

光芒 is the visible, dazzling radiance — sun rays, a bright smile. Compare 光彩 (luster, often figurative glory) and 光辉 (grandiose brilliance).

noun

radiancebrilliant rays of light

Examples

光芒。
Qīng chén de yáng guāng sàn fā chū wēn nuǎn de guāng máng.
The morning sunlight emits a warm radiance.
光芒，。
Tā de xiào róng xiàng yí dào guāng máng, ràng rén gǎn dào wēn nuǎn.
Her smile is like a ray of light, making people feel warm.
光芒。
Cóng yún céng zhōng tòu chū de guāng máng fēi cháng měi lì.
The radiance coming through the clouds is very beautiful.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

“光” (light) and “芒” (rays) combine to mean brilliant radiance.

Characters in this word

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.

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

艹亡芒

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艹Written in full as艸cǎograss

Sound part声符shēngfú

亡

亡wáng芒máng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

芒 pairs 艹 (grass) with 亡 as a sound part.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6

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