耀眼 (yào yǎn) — dazzling, blinding (of light) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Adjective for light or shine so bright it stings the eyes ('dazzling, blinding'). Pairs with the same nouns (光, 灯光) as 刺眼, but 刺眼 extends to garish colors; 璀璨 is grander, for jewels or achievements.

adjective

dazzlingblinding (of light)

Examples

耀眼。
Tā dài le yì tiáo yào yǎn de jīn xiàng liàn.
She wore a dazzling gold necklace.
耀眼。
Wǔ tái shàng de dēng guāng fēi cháng yào yǎn.
The stage lights are very dazzling.
耀眼。
Tā de cái huá xiàng yào yǎn de guāng máng yí yàng.
His talent is like a dazzling light.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

耀 means to dazzle and 眼 refers to the eyes, so 耀眼 describes light that dazzles the eyes.

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.

光翟耀

Meaning part形符xíngfú

光光guānglight; beam; ray

Sound part声符shēngfú

翟

翟zhái耀yào

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

耀 has 光 (light; beam; ray) beside 翟, and 翟 gives the sound.

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

目艮眼

Meaning part形符xíngfú

目目mùeye

Sound part声符shēngfú

艮

艮gèn眼yǎn

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

眼 combines 目, which is an eye, with 艮, which gives the character's sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Senses

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