照耀 (zhào yào) — to shine on; to illuminate | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literary/elevated verb for a strong light radiating outward, also used figuratively (e.g. wisdom guiding people). Compared with 照射 (neutral, technical) and 照 (everyday 'to shine on / photograph'), 照耀 emphasizes brilliance and grandeur.

verb

to shine onto illuminate

Examples

照耀。
Lù dēng zhào yào zhe jì jìng de jiē dào.
The streetlights illuminate the quiet street.
照耀。
Là zhú de wēi guāng zhào yào le yì xiǎo kuài dì fāng.
The faint candlelight lit up a small area.
照耀。
Tā de zhì huì zhào yào le wǒ men qián xíng de fāng xiàng.
His wisdom illuminated the direction of our advance.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

"照" shine and "耀" glow together mean illuminate.

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.

灬昭照

Meaning part形符xíngfú

灬Written in full as火huǒfire

Sound part声符shēngfú

昭

昭zhāo照zhào

Same sound today

照 uses 灬, a bottom form of 火 (fire), plus 昭 for the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

光翟耀

Meaning part形符xíngfú

光光guānglight; beam; ray

Sound part声符shēngfú

翟

翟zhái耀yào

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

耀 has 光 (light; beam; ray) beside 翟, and 翟 gives the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6

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