TongTong
Sign in

金光闪闪 (jīn guāng shǎn shǎn) — glittering with golden light; resplendent

Definition

A vivid descriptive idiom (AABB reduplication) for things glittering with golden light — often statues, jewelry, or sunlit water. The repeated 闪闪 emphasizes the sparkling, flickering quality.

idiom
glittering with golden lightresplendent

Examples

  • 金光闪闪，。
    Guǎng chǎng shàng de diāo sù jīn guāng shǎn shǎn, xī yǐn le hěn duō rén pāi zhào.
    The sculpture in the square was glittering with golden light, attracting many people to take photos.
  • 金光闪闪，。
    Tā dài le yì tiáo jīn guāng shǎn shǎn de xiàng liàn, fēi cháng yào yǎn.
    She wore a resplendent necklace that shone with golden light, very dazzling.
  • ，金光闪闪，。
    Yáng guāng zhào zài hú miàn shàng, zhěng gè hú miàn jīn guāng shǎn shǎn, měi jí le.
    The sunlight hit the lake surface, and the entire lake glittered with golden light — it was extremely beautiful.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

金光golden light
金jīngold光guānglight
偏正Modifier + head
闪闪sparkling
闪shǎnglint闪shǎnglint
重叠Reduplication

"金光" golden light and "闪闪" sparkling together describe light glittering.

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.

金 was drawn with marks for two pieces of metal, along with a part that gave its sound; it first meant copper, then metals and gold.

Open 金 →

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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 閃; 闪 is its simplified writing.

In the traditional 閃, 人 (person) appears inside 門 (gate), showing a person running through a gate. The simplified 闪 is a later shorthand.

Open 闪 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 閃; 闪 is its simplified writing.

In the traditional 閃, 人 (person) appears inside 門 (gate), showing a person running through a gate. The simplified 闪 is a later shorthand.

Open 闪 →
Appears in
AppearanceIdioms & Set Phrases

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.