lik1爍烁
Jyutpinglik1
Yalelīk
Definition
Bright; to shine, glisten, or sparkle.
colloquialdescriptionsbody
How it's used
Used primarily to describe eyes that are lively or expressive, often implying a sense of intelligence or spirit. While it can describe light, it is far more common to hear it used for human features or a person's gaze than for general light sources. It carries a positive, vibrant connotation compared to more neutral words for brightness.
Examples
Her eyes are very bright, as if they can talk.
The stars are twinkling in the dark night.
Related words
Common phrases
twinkling or flickering
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 閃, which is the standard verb for flashing or blinking. While 爍 is often paired with 閃 to form 閃爍, using 爍 alone as a verb for light is rare and can sound overly literary or poetic in daily speech.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
