Meaning
晦涩 describes language, writing, or ideas that are dark, unclear, and hard to comprehend. It combines the sense of dimness (晦) with roughness or difficulty (涩), suggesting content that lacks clarity and is intellectually inaccessible to most readers.
Usage
Commonly used in literary criticism and academic contexts to describe overly complex or deliberately opaque writing styles. Often carries a slightly negative connotation, suggesting unnecessary difficulty rather than profound depth. Frequently appears in discussions of classical texts, philosophy, or pretentious writing.
Examples
- 01这篇哲学论文写得太晦涩，普通读者根本看不懂。, .This philosophy paper is written too obscurely; ordinary readers simply cannot understand it.
- 02他的诗歌语言晦涩，充满了生僻的典故。, .His poetry uses obscure language and is full of obscure allusions.
Characters
Common collocations
- 晦涩难懂obscure and hard to understand
- 文字晦涩writing is obscure
- 语言晦涩language is abstruse
- 晦涩的文风obscure writing style
Antonyms
Origin
晦 originally referred to the dark, moonless last day of the lunar month, extending to mean obscure or unclear. 涩 describes a rough, astringent sensation, like unripe fruit. Together they create the metaphor of something both dark and rough, hence difficult to understand.