余辉 (yú huī) — afterglow, lingering light (of sunset); (figurative) fading glory or influence

Definition

Literary word for 'afterglow' — the lingering light left after the sun sets. Often used figuratively to describe fading glory or a legacy of past influence.

noun
afterglowlingering light (of sunset)(figurative) fading glory or influence
Easily confused

Examples

  • 余辉，。
    Xī yáng de yú huī sǎ zài hú miàn shàng, fēi cháng měi.
    The afterglow of the setting sun spilled over the lake, very beautiful.
  • 余辉。
    Zhè zuò gǔ chéng zhī shèng xià xī rì de yú huī.
    This ancient city only retains the fading glory of its past.
  • 余辉。
    Huáng hūn de yú huī ràng rén gǎn dào níng jìng.
    The afterglow at dusk makes people feel peaceful.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

余yúremaining
辉huīglow

余 (remaining) and 辉 (glow) describe lingering light.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 餘; 余 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
食食shí
Sound part声符shēngfú
余
余yú餘Yú
Same sound today

The traditional form 餘 pairs 食 (food) with 余 as its sound part; the simplified 余 is a later abbreviation.

Open 余 →

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 →

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