Chinese word

照耀

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhào yào

Meaning

  • verbshine on

Example

阳光照耀在他的脸上。yáng guāng zhào yào zài tā de liǎn shàng

Sunlight shines on his face.

Illustration for 照耀 (shine on)

More examples

星光照耀夜空。xīng guāng zhào yào yè kōng

Starlight shines on the night sky.

Core concept

Light falls across something and makes it bright, with the same idea extending to influence that makes it stand out.

Common phrases

  • 阳光照耀大地yáng guāng zhào yào dà dì

    sunlight shines on the earth

  • 星光照耀夜空xīng guāng zhào yào yè kōng

    starlight shines on the night sky

  • 灯光照耀舞台dēng guāng zhào yào wǔ tái

    stage lights shine on the stage

Similar words

照亮zhào liàng: Makes a person, place, or object visible by shining light on it.
闪耀shǎn yào: Gleams with a strong, clear brightness that stands out.
闪烁shǎn shuò: Shines with light that flickers on and off.
发光fā guāng: Emits light and shines as a light source.

Definition in Chinese

用光把物体照亮；也可比喻用影响或力量使某事物显得明亮或突出。yòng guāng bǎ wù tǐ zhào liàng yě kě bǐ yù yòng yíng xiǎng huò lì liàng shǐ mǒu shì wù xiǎn de míng liàng huò tū chū

Word origin

照耀 (zhàoyào, "shine on") combines 照 (zhào, "cast light on") with 耀 (yào, "shine brightly"), joining the act of lighting a thing with the result of making it gleam or stand out.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this verb often sounds more literary or poetic than simpler verbs for ordinary lighting, so it fits descriptions with a broad or elevated tone.

Other meanings

  • light upverb

Opposites

  • 遮蔽zhē bìblockverb
  • 遮挡zhē dǎngobstructverb

Word lists with this word