映衬 (yìng chèn) — to set off by contrast; to enhance by contrast

Definition

映衬 (yìngchèn) means two things make each other stand out through contrast — e.g. colors, styles, or qualities that highlight one another. In writing it also names this 'antithesis' rhetorical device.

verb
to set off by contrastto enhance by contrast

Examples

  • 映衬，。
    Bái sè de qiáng bì yìng chèn zhe hóng sè de huā duǒ, fēi cháng piào liang.
    The white walls set off the red flowers beautifully.
  • 映衬，。
    Tā de wēn róu yǔ tā de gāng yì hù xiāng yìng chèn, xíng chéng wán měi zǔ hé.
    Her gentleness and his fortitude set each other off, forming a perfect combination.
  • 映衬。
    Gǔ lǎo de jiàn zhù zài xī yáng de yìng chèn xià xiǎn de gé wài zhuāng yán.
    The ancient building appears particularly solemn against the setting sun.

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.

映yìngreflect
衬chènset off

映 gives reflecting and 衬 gives setting off, together meaning to enhance by contrast.

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
日日rìsun
Sound part声符shēngfú
央
央yāng映yìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

映 pairs 日, the sun, with 央 as a sound element.

Open 映 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 衬 →

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