闪耀 (shǎn yào) — to shine, to sparkle, to glitter; (figurative) to radiate, to be brilliant (of talents, achievements)

Definition

Strong, vivid word for light shining brightly and sparkling, often used figuratively for talents or achievements that 'radiate' brilliance. More literary and intense than everyday 闪.

verb
to shineto sparkleto glitter(figurative) to radiateto be brilliant (of talents, achievements)

Examples

  • 闪耀。
    Yè kōng zhōng shǎn yào zhe wú shù xīng xing.
    The night sky sparkles with countless stars.
  • 闪耀。
    Tā de yǎn jiǎng shǎn yào zhe zhì huì de guāng máng.
    His speech radiated the light of wisdom.
  • 闪耀。
    Zhè zuò chéng shì de dēng guāng zài yuǎn chù shǎn yào.
    The city lights shine in the distance.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

闪shǎnflash
耀yàoshine

闪 flashes, 耀 shines; both contribute brightness, so it means glitter or shine.

Characters in this word

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 →

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
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.

Open 耀 →

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