磨光 (mò guāng) — to polish (until glossy/smooth), to burnish

Definition

磨光 (mò guāng) means to rub a surface — usually with an abrasive — until it is smooth and glossy. Unlike general verbs like 擦 (wipe/clean), it focuses on the physical process of grinding, often used with jade, metal, or wood.

verb
to polish (until glossy/smooth)to burnish

Examples

  • 磨光。
    Tā bǎ zhè kuài yù shí mò guāng le.
    He polished this piece of jade until it was glossy.
  • 磨光。
    Gōng rén yòng shā zhǐ bǎ biǎo miàn mò guāng le.
    The worker used sandpaper to polish the surface smooth.
  • 磨光。
    Zhè jiàn tóng qì yǐ jīng bèi mò guāng le.
    This bronze artifact has already been polished smooth.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

磨mógrind
光guāngglossy

磨 means grind and 光 means glossy, so grinding produces a smooth shine.

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
石石shírock
Sound part声符shēngfú
靡
靡mí磨mó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

磨 combines 石, showing rock, with 靡 for the sound.

Open 磨 →

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 →

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