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曝光 (bào guāng) — to expose (photographic film or sensor to light); to expose (a scandal, secret, or wrongdoing) to the public

Definition

曝光 covers both literal photographic exposure and public exposure of a scandal. 揭露 and 揭发 focus on actively uncovering wrongdoing; 曝光 can also mean mere public visibility (e.g. media buzz).

verb
to expose (photographic film or sensor to light)to expose (a scandal, secret, or wrongdoing) to the public

Examples

  • 曝光，。
    Shè yǐng shī jué dìng yán cháng bào guāng shí jiān, ràng zhào piàn gèng liàng.
    The photographer decided to extend the exposure time to make the photo brighter.
  • 曝光。
    Jì zhě yǒng gǎn dì bào guāng le nà jiā gōng sī de fēi fǎ xíng wéi.
    The journalist bravely exposed the illegal activities of that company.
  • 曝光。
    Zhè jiā pǐn pái xiǎng yào tōng guò shè jiāo méi tǐ bào guāng xīn xì liè chǎn pǐn.
    This brand wants to expose its new product line through social media.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

曝pùexpose
光guānglight

曝 (expose) and 光 (light) combine as laying something out to light, hence exposing film or a scandal.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
日日rìsun
Sound part声符shēngfú
暴
暴bào曝bào
Same sound today

曝 adds 日 (sun) to 暴, which already stood for this word, to make the sun-related meaning clearer.

Open 曝 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Media & NewsPhotography & Design

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