verb HSK 4
Traditional 變暗
to become dark · to dim · to darken
Meaning
变暗 means 'to become dark' or 'to dim,' describing the process of something losing brightness or light. It combines 变 (to change) and 暗 (dark), literally meaning 'to change to dark.' This word is commonly used for natural phenomena like sunset, as well as for artificial lighting and screens.
Usage
Native speakers use 变暗 to describe gradual darkening of light sources, environments, or displays. It's neutral in register and works for both literal darkening (like a room or sky) and metaphorical contexts (like a mood). Often paired with time expressions or conditions that cause the darkening.
Examples
- 01太阳下山后，天空慢慢变暗了。, .After the sun set, the sky slowly darkened.
- 02我把手机屏幕调得变暗一点，这样更省电。, .I adjusted my phone screen to be dimmer, which saves more battery.
Characters
Common collocations
- 天色变暗the sky darkens
- 屏幕变暗the screen dims
- 灯光变暗the lights dim
- 逐渐变暗to gradually darken
Antonyms
Origin
Compound word formed from 变 (change) + 暗 (dark), following the common Chinese pattern of verb + adjective to create intransitive verbs of transformation.