jap1熠
Jyutpingjap1
Yaleyāp
Definition
To glow; bright and sparkling.
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How it's used
Used primarily in the reduplicated form 熠熠 to describe something that glitters or sparkles with light. It carries a poetic or literary nuance, often appearing in descriptions of stars, jewels, or eyes that convey a sense of vitality. While it describes visual brightness, it is rarely used for artificial light sources like lightbulbs or screens.
Examples
The stars are glowing and shining in the dark night.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 閃, which is the more common, everyday word for flashing or blinking. Use 熠熠 specifically for a steady, shimmering glow rather than a rapid, intermittent flash.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
