adjective / verb HSK 2
bright · light · shiny · to shine · to light up · to show
Meaning
亮 describes something that emits or reflects light, making it bright or shiny. As an adjective, it characterizes light sources, colors, or surfaces. As a verb, it means to illuminate, to shine, or to reveal something by bringing it into the light.
Usage
Very common in everyday speech. Used for physical brightness (bright lights, shiny surfaces), clear sounds (亮嗓子 means 'clear voice'), and metaphorically for revealing or showing something. Often appears in compound words like 明亮 (bright), 漂亮 (pretty), and 亮相 (to make an appearance).
Examples
- 01房间太暗了，请把灯打亮。, .The room is too dark, please turn on the lights.
- 02天快亮了，我们该出发了。, .It's almost dawn, we should set off.
Common collocations
- 天亮daybreak, dawn
- 亮灯to turn on the lights
- 亮相to make an appearance, to debut
- 月亮moon
Antonyms
Origin
The character combines 高 (high) on top with 几 (table) and 儿 (person) below, originally depicting someone raising something high to catch the light, thus conveying brightness.