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炅 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
炅guìbrilliant, shiningg, 8 strokes, radical 火
炅guì(literary) brightunknown, 8 strokes, radical 火
炅guìbrillianceunknown, 8 strokes, radical 火
炅guìsurname Guiunknown, 8 strokes, radical 火
炅jiǒngbrilliant, shiningg, 8 strokes, radical 火
炅jiǒng(literary) brightunknown, 8 strokes, radical 火
炅jiǒngbrillianceunknown, 8 strokes, radical 火
炅jiǒngsurname Guiunknown, 8 strokes, radical 火
guì(Gui4)
primary
 T4
  1. 1brilliant, shining
  2. 2(literary) bright
Also a Chinese surname, Gui — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

炅guì(Gui4)

The character 炅 (guì) means 'brilliant' or 'shining,' often used in literary contexts to describe something that emits light or brilliance. It can also refer to the surname Gui. This word is less commonly used in everyday conversation but can be found in poetic or formal writing.

Strokes8Radical火
Cultural Note

In Chinese poetry, light and brilliance are often metaphorically linked to wisdom and enlightenment. The use of 炅 in literature reflects the cultural value placed on clarity and brightness, both literally and metaphorically.

Memory Tip

Imagine a glowing sun (the 'brilliance') shining brightly in the sky. The character 炅 is made up of the fire radical 火 (huǒ), which signifies light and warmth, combined with the character 京 (jīng), suggesting a grand city or prominence. Picture the sun illuminating a famous city with its brilliance.

Meanings of 炅

guì(Gui4)
primary
1brilliant, shining
2(literary) bright
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 炅

炅Simplified
8Strokes
火Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 炅

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Podcast: 炅

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AI Study Notes for 炅

Usage Notes

While 炅 is a beautiful word, it is not commonly used in spoken language. Learners might confuse it with more frequently used terms for 'bright' like 明 (míng). It's important to note that this word carries a more literary tone, so it may not fit well in casual conversations.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level not specified, learners should note that this character is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary list. However, understanding this word can enrich your literary vocabulary and help you appreciate classical Chinese texts. Focus on recognizing the radicals and their meanings.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 炅 with the more commonly used 明 (míng) and use it inappropriately in casual contexts. For example, saying '今天天气炅' instead of '今天天气明' is incorrect; '明' is the appropriate choice for describing the weather.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 炅

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Etymology of 炅

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A flame 火 as bright as the sun 日

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 炅

  1. 1The giveawayA flame 火 as bright as the sun 日
  2. 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 炅? 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 炅?

Decomposition of 炅

IDS Structure⿱日火
炅Full Character
=
日Ri4
top
火Huo3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 炅?

How to say brilliant, shining in Chinese

“brilliant, shining” in Chinese is炅guì

The character 炅 (guì) means 'brilliant' or 'shining,' often used in literary contexts to describe something that emits light or brilliance. It can also refer to the surname Gui. This word is less commonly used in everyday conversation but can be found in poetic or formal writing.

When to use 炅

While 炅 is a beautiful word, it is not commonly used in spoken language. Learners might confuse it with more frequently used terms for 'bright' like 明 (míng). It's important to note that this word carries a more literary tone, so it may not fit well in casual conversations.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 炅 with the more commonly used 明 (míng) and use it inappropriately in casual contexts. For example, saying '今天天气炅' instead of '今天天气明' is incorrect; '明' is the appropriate choice for describing the weather.

Write 炅

炅

Practice writing 炅 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 炅

Words Containing This Character1
炅guìshining
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 炅 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 炅

No, 炅 is more often found in literary texts rather than in everyday speech.

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