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March 24, 2026
烁(爍)shuò(shuo4)
The character 烁 (shuò) refers to something that is bright, luminous, or sparkling. It is commonly used to describe light, radiance, or objects that shine, like stars or gemstones. Its usage often conveys a sense of brilliance or clarity in various contexts.
Strokes9Radical火Frequency#20240DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, brightness often symbolizes positivity and good fortune. The concept of brightness and sparkle is frequently associated with auspicious events or celebrations, such as the New Year, where lights and decorations are common.
Memory Tip
Imagine a shimmering star (烁) in the night sky. The radical 火 (fire) suggests brightness and warmth, while the top part resembles a twinkling star. Remembering the connection between stars and their sparkling light can help you recall the meaning and pronunciation of 烁 (shuò).
Meanings of 烁
shuò(shuo4)
1bright
2luminous
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 烁
烁Simplified
爍Traditional
9Strokes
火Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#20240Frequency Rank
Podcast: 烁
Podcast: 烁
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AI Study Notes for 烁
Quick Contrast
闪 (shǎn) - use 烁 for a steady brightness or radiance, while 闪 emphasizes a quick flash or sparkle.
Usage Notes
烁 is generally used in written Chinese rather than spoken conversation, making it more formal. Be cautious with tone as it is a fourth tone (shuò), which can be confused with other tones. Common collocations include 烁烁 (shimmering) and 光烁 (luminous).
HSK Study Tips
Although 烁 is not in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be connected to words related to brightness and light found in HSK levels 3 and 4, such as 明 (míng) meaning bright. Focus on recognizing the character's components and their meanings as you expand your vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 烁 with 明 (míng) due to their similar meanings related to brightness. For example, saying '星星很明' (xīng xīng hěn míng) to describe stars is common, but using '星星很烁' (xīng xīng hěn shuò) emphasizes their sparkling nature more accurately.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 烁
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How Well Do You Know 烁?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 烁 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 烁 (shuò) refers to something that is bright, luminous, or sparkling. It is commonly used to describe light, radiance, or objects that shine, like stars or gemstones. Its usage often conveys a sense of brilliance or clarity in various contexts.
When to use 烁
烁 is generally used in written Chinese rather than spoken conversation, making it more formal. Be cautious with tone as it is a fourth tone (shuò), which can be confused with other tones. Common collocations include 烁烁 (shimmering) and 光烁 (luminous).
烁 or something close to it
闪 (shǎn) - use 烁 for a steady brightness or radiance, while 闪 emphasizes a quick flash or sparkle.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 烁 with 明 (míng) due to their similar meanings related to brightness. For example, saying '星星很明' (xīng xīng hěn míng) to describe stars is common, but using '星星很烁' (xīng xīng hěn shuò) emphasizes their sparkling nature more accurately.
Write 烁
烁
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Practice writing 烁 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 烁
烁 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
“我要走，离开他。”劳拉·斯特宾停了下来，眼里闪____着光芒。
"I shall go, leave him." Laura Stebbing stopped, her eyes glistening.
