晶莹剔透 (jīng yíng tī tòu) — sparkling and crystal-clear; glittering and translucent (of jade, ice, water, etc.)

Definition

Idiom for something sparkling AND crystal-clear at once, often used for jade, ice, water, or tears. Pure praise — the physical qualities of transparency plus brilliance combined.

idiom
sparkling and crystal-clearglittering and translucent (of jade, ice, water, etc.)

Examples

  • 晶莹剔透，。
    Zhè kuài fěi cuì jīng yíng tī tòu, jià zhí lián chéng.
    This piece of jadeite is sparkling and translucent, worth a fortune.
  • 晶莹剔透，。
    Hán dōng de hú miàn jīng yíng tī tòu, xiàng yí miàn jù dà de jìng zi.
    The frozen lake in winter is crystal-clear, like a huge mirror.
  • 晶莹剔透，。
    Tā de yǎn lèi jīng yíng tī tòu, ràng rén kàn le xīn téng.
    Her tears were sparkling and clear, heartbreaking to see.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

晶 is drawn as three suns placed together, giving a picture of bright light.

Open 晶 →

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 瑩; 莹 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
玉玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
熒
熒yíng瑩⁰yíng
Same sound today

The traditional form 瑩 pairs 玉 (jade) with 熒, which gives the sound; 莹 is the form shown here.

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
刀刀dāoknife
Sound part声符shēngfú
易
易yì剔tī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

剔 combines 刀, a knife, with 易, which gives the character its sound.

Open 剔 →

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
辵辵chuòwalking
Sound part声符shēngfú
秀
秀xiù透tòu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape 透 has 辵, a walking part, and 秀, which provides the sound.

Open 透 →

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