Chinese word

逆光

Pronunciation

Pinyinnì guāng

Meaning

  • nounbacklight

Example

拍照时要学会利用逆光。pāi zhào shí yào xué huì lì yòng nì guāng

When taking photos, it is important to learn how to use backlight.

Illustration for 逆光 (backlight)

More examples

孩子在逆光下笑得很开心。hái zi zài nì guāng xià xiào de hěn kāi xīn

The child smiled happily in the backlight.

Core concept

A subject stands between the viewer and a strong light, so its outline shines while its visible face is dark.

Common phrases

  • 逆光摄影nì guāng shè yǐng

    backlit photography

  • 利用逆光lì yòng nì guāng

    use backlight

  • 逆光下nì guāng xià

    in backlight

Similar words

背光bèi guāng: A lighting condition in which light from behind brightens only the subject's outline.
顺光shùn guāng: A lighting condition in which front light clearly shows the subject's colors and expression.
侧光cè guāng: A lighting condition in which side light creates clear shadows and highlights.

Definition in Chinese

指太阳或其他光源位于被摄体背后，使被摄体边缘被光线照亮而正面相对昏暗的一种光照状态。zhǐ tài yáng huò qí tā guāng yuán wèi yú bèi shè tǐ bèi hòu shǐ bèi shè tǐ biān yuán bèi guāng xiàn zhào liàng ér zhèng miàn xiāng duì hūn àn de yì zhǒng guāng zhào zhuàng tài

Word origin

The compound combines 逆 (nì, "reverse") with 光 (guāng, "light") to name a lighting setup in which the light is on the far side of the subject.

Usage tips

  • For conversational use, the word describes a shooting condition rather than the subject itself, which makes it useful when discussing why a picture looks shadowed.

Opposites

  • 顺光shùn guāngfront lightnoun

Word lists with this word