Chinese word

水灵灵

Pronunciation

Pinyinshuǐ líng líng

Meaning

  • adjectivebright

Example

她的眼睛看起来水灵灵。tā de yǎn jīng kàn qǐ lái shuǐ líng líng

Her eyes look bright.

Illustration for 水灵灵 (bright)

More examples

她涂了润唇膏，嘴唇看起来水灵灵。tā tú le rùn chún gāo zuǐ chún kàn qǐ lái shuǐ líng líng

She applied lip balm, and her lips looked moist.

Core concept

A dewy, soft glow that makes a feature look fresh and full of life.

Common phrases

  • 眼睛水灵灵yǎn jīng shuǐ líng líng

    bright eyes

  • 脸蛋水灵灵liǎn dàn shuǐ líng líng

    fresh cheeks

  • 果肉水灵灵guǒ ròu shuǐ líng líng

    juicy flesh

Similar words

水润shuǐ rùn: Having enough moisture to look smooth, soft, and gently glossy, as skin or fruit can be.
光泽guāng zé: Showing a visible sheen from reflected light that makes a surface look attractive.
饱满báo mǎn: Full and plump, with a rounded shape or well-filled appearance.
鲜嫩xiān nèn: Fresh, tender, and soft, with a newly picked quality that feels pleasant to eat or touch.

Definition in Chinese

口语中形容皮肤、眼睛等看起来水分充足、柔嫩并带有光泽的形容词。kóu yǔ zhōng xíng róng pí fū yǎn jīng děng kàn qǐ lái shuǐ fèn chōng zú róu nèn bìng dài yǒu guāng zé de xíng róng cí

Word origin

The colloquial adjective 水灵灵 (shuǐlínglíng, "fresh and lively") builds on 水灵 (shuǐlíng, "fresh and lively"), with final-syllable repetition adding a vivid, buoyant quality.

Usage tips

  • It is most natural in conversational praise, while formal writing generally uses a more neutral description.

Other meanings

  • shinyadjective
  • moistadjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word