相映成辉 (xiāng yìng chéng huī) — to complement each other and shine together; to enhance each other's brilliance

Definition

A set phrase (chengyu) meaning two things highlight each other's beauty when seen together — the effect is mutual enhancement, not one-sided.

verb
to complement each other and shine togetherto enhance each other's brilliance

Examples

  • ，相映成辉，。
    Zhè liǎng fú huà fàng zài yì qǐ, xiāng yìng chéng huī, xiào guǒ fēi cháng hǎo.
    These two paintings put together complement each other and shine; the effect is excellent.
  • ，相映成辉，。
    Lán tiān xià bì shuǐ qīng shān, xiāng yìng chéng huī, měi bú shèng shōu.
    Under the blue sky, the green water and verdant mountains enhance each other's splendor; the beauty is overwhelming.
  • 相映成辉，。
    Tā men de cái huá yǔ nǔ lì xiāng yìng chéng huī, gòng tóng chuàng zào le huī huáng.
    Their talent and hard work complement each other and shine, together creating brilliance.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

In 相, 目 is an eye and 木 is a tree, showing an eye looking at a tree; this originally meant “to observe.”

Open 相 →

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 →

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
戊戊wù
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng成chéng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

成 puts 戊, a weapon, beside 丁, which gives the sound. The weapon part relates to protection, as in the old sense of city walls.

Open 成 →

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 輝; 辉 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
光光guānglight; bright
Sound part声符shēngfú
軍
軍jūn輝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 輝 uses 光, meaning light; bright, and 軍 to give its sound; the simplified 辉 is a later shorthand and its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 辉 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.