亮

liàng

亠 + 冖 + 几 + 口

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

liàng (adjective) bright; clear; luminous

liàng (verb) to shine; to illuminate

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 人 represents the meaning and 京 represents the sound. Depicts a person (人) in a high place (京).

About

亮 (liàng) is a phonosemantic compound: the top derives from 京 (high place), and the bottom is 人 (person). 人 suggests the meaning, while 京 gives the sound. The character depicts a person in an elevated, visible spot, which underlies its core sense of "bright" or "shining". This physical luminosity naturally extended into abstract descriptions, allowing it to mean clear, transparent, resonant (of a voice), and the revelation of hidden truths or intentions.

Etymology Hide

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

外面的灯亮了。

Wàimiàn de dēng liàng le.

The light outside is on.

她的眼睛很亮。

Tā de yǎnjing hěn liàng.

Her eyes are very bright.

月亮照亮了夜空。

Yuèliang zhàoliàng le yèkōng.

The moon illuminates the night sky.

他响亮地回答了问题。

Tā xiǎngliàng de huídá le wèntí.

He answered the question loudly and clearly.

这个房间需要更亮的灯光。

Zhège fángjiān xūyào gèng liàng de dēngguāng.

This room needs brighter lighting.

在黑暗中，手电筒发出了一道亮光。

Zài hēi'àn zhōng, shǒudiàntǒng fāchūle yī dào liàngguāng.

In the darkness, the flashlight emitted a beam of light.

他的成绩单上有一个亮眼的分数。

Tā de chéngjīdān shàng yǒu yī gè liàngyǎn de fēnshù.

There is a striking score on his report card.

通过透明的窗户，明亮的阳光洒满了整个客厅。

Tōngguò tòumíng de chuānghu, míngliàng de yángguāng sǎ mǎnle zhěnggè kètīng.

Through the transparent window, bright sunlight filled the entire living room.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 亠

Component: 冖

Component: 几

Component: 口

亮