闪烁 (shǎn shuò) — to flicker, to twinkle (of light or reflection); to be evasive, to hedge (in speech, often in 闪烁其词)
Definition
As a verb of light, 闪烁 means 'to flicker/twinkle' (stars, lamps). The fixed phrase 闪烁其词 means to speak evasively — close to 含糊 and 吞吞吐吐, but 闪烁其词 is a set idiom for hedging speech, not a general adjective.
verb
to flickerto twinkle (of light or reflection)to be evasiveto hedge (in speech, often in 闪烁其词)
Examples
- 闪烁。Yè kōng zhōng xīng xing zài shǎn shuò zhe.Stars are twinkling in the night sky.
- 闪烁。Nà zhǎn dēng yì zhí zài shǎn shuò.That lamp has been flickering all along.
- 闪烁。Tā shuō huà zǒng shì shǎn shuò qí cí.He always speaks evasively.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.