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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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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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2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 烁? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 烁?
Decomposition of 烁
IDS Structure⿰火乐
烁Full Character
=
火Huo3
left
乐Le4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 烁?
How to say bright in Chinese
“bright” in Chinese is烁shuò
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
Complete the Sentence
“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.
