闪光 (shǎn guāng) — (verb-object) to flash, to sparkle, to flicker; (noun) flash (of light)

Definition

A verb-object phrase: 'to flash/sparkle' (verbs like 闪 + object 光) or the noun 'flash (of light)', as in a camera flash. Same characters used in both roles; the verb often reduplicates (闪闪光) for a brief, flickering effect.

verb
(verb-object) to flashto sparkleto flicker
noun
flash (of light)

Examples

  • ，。
    Yè kōng zhōng shǎn le yí xià guāng, rán hòu xiāo shī le.
    A flash appeared in the night sky, then disappeared.
  • 闪光。
    Tā de yǎn jing zài dēng guāng xià shǎn guāng.
    Her eyes sparkled under the light.
  • 闪光，。
    Xiàng jī shàng de shǎn guāng tài qiáng le, zhào piàn dōu bái le.
    The flash on the camera was too strong, and the photo turned out overexposed.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

闪shǎnflash
光guānglight

闪 describes emitting a flash, and 光 is light, giving a flash of light.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 閃; 闪 is its simplified writing.

In the traditional 閃, 人 (person) appears inside 門 (gate), showing a person running through a gate. The simplified 闪 is a later shorthand.

Open 闪 →

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.

Open 光 →

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