Chinese word

点缀

Pronunciation

Pinyindiǎn zhuì

Meaning

  • verbdecorate

Example

她用鲜花点缀了房间。tā yòng xiān huā diǎn zhuì le fáng jiān

She decorated the room with fresh flowers.

Illustration for 点缀 (decorate)

More examples

窗台上的多肉植物点缀着整个书房。chuāng tái shàng de duō ròu zhí wù diǎn zhuì zhe zhěng gè shū fáng

The succulents on the windowsill add a decorative touch to the entire study.

Core concept

An added detail gives a larger whole extra color while staying secondary to its main character.

Common phrases

  • 鲜花点缀房间xiān huā diǎn zhuì fáng jiān

    decorate the room with fresh flowers

  • 灯光点缀舞台dēng guāng diǎn zhuì wǔ tái

    decorate the stage with lighting

  • 细节点缀作品xì jié diǎn zhuì zuò pǐn

    embellish the work with details

Similar words

装饰zhuāng shì: Adorns a room or object with decorations to give it a brighter, more attractive look.
装点zhuāng diǎn: Improves the beauty of an appearance or expression with small embellishments.
修饰xiū shì: Adjusts details in language or appearance to make the result more polished and orderly.

Definition in Chinese

在某物上加上小的装饰或细节，使其更生动或更美观，但不改变主体特征。zài mǒu wù shàng jiā shàng xiǎo de zhuāng shì huò xì jié shǐ qí gēng shēng dòng huò gèng měi guān dàn bù gǎi biàn zhú tǐ tè zhēng

Word origin

点 (diǎn, "small point") + 缀 (zhuì, "to join or attach") suggests attaching a small point to an existing whole, which develops into the idea of adding a graceful embellishment.

Usage tips

  • The verb also works in passive descriptions when the focus is on a scene enhanced by flowers, colors, or other details rather than on the person who adds them.

Other meanings

  • add a touch of color toverb
  • add a finishing touch toverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 点缀物diǎn zhuì wùdecorative objectnoun

Word lists with this word