忽明忽暗 (hū míng hū àn) — flickering; now bright, now dim

Definition

A vivid idiom for light or a signal that keeps switching between bright and dim — a real flicker, not a steady glow. By extension, it can describe moods or situations that alternate abruptly.

idiom
flickeringnow brightnow dim

Examples

  • 忽明忽暗，。
    Yuǎn chù de dēng guāng hū míng hū àn, xiàng shì yǒu rén zài qiú jiù.
    The light in the distance was flickering, as if someone was signaling for help.
  • 忽明忽暗，，。
    Tā de xīn qíng hū míng hū àn, yí huì r gāo xìng, yí huì r nán guò.
    His mood kept shifting — happy one moment, sad the next.
  • 忽明忽暗，。
    Xìn hào dēng hū míng hū àn, kě néng shì diàn lù chū le wèn tí.
    The signal light was flickering; there might be a problem with the circuit.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

忽明suddenly bright
忽hūsuddenly明míngbright
偏正Modifier + head
忽暗suddenly dark
忽hūsuddenly暗àndim
偏正Modifier + head

忽明忽暗 places 忽明, 'suddenly bright', and 忽暗, 'suddenly dark', side by side to give 'flickering'.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
勿
勿wù忽hū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

忽 combines 心, meaning heart, and 勿, used for its sound.

Open 忽 →

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

明 combines 日 (sun) and 月 (moon), showing the sun just rising while the moon has not yet set, or two bright objects in the sky, to express brightness.

Open 明 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
勿
勿wù忽hū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

忽 combines 心, meaning heart, and 勿, used for its sound.

Open 忽 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
日日rìsun
Sound part声符shēngfú
音
音yīn暗àn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

暗 pairs 日 (sun) with 音, which gives the sound.

Open 暗 →

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