Definitions

càn (adjective) bright; brilliant; resplendent

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "灿", originating from its traditional form "燦", is etymologically constructed from the semantic element "火" representing fire or light and the component "粲" which historically contributed both phonetic value and a meaning associated with brightness, thus forming a character dedicated to expressing radiance and splendor. Over time, its core meaning has consistently centered on describing luminous or gloriously brilliant qualities, evident in its enduring use within literary and common language, such as in the compound "灿烂". The structural shift from "燦" to "灿" involved replacing the complex "粲" with "山", a change that simplified the character's form while retaining the "火" radical to preserve the conceptual link to light, albeit with a less precise phonetic indication.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

阳光烂,天气真好。

Yángguāng cànlàn, tiānqì zhēn hǎo.

The sunshine is brilliant; the weather is really nice.

她的笑容很烂。

Tā de xiàoróng hěn cànlàn.

Her smile is very bright and radiant.

孩子们拥有烂的童年。

Háizimen yōngyǒu cànlàn de tóngnián.

The children have a brilliant childhood.

夜空中的繁星烂夺目。

Yèkōng zhōng de fánxīng cànlàn duómù.

The stars in the night sky are dazzlingly brilliant.

中华文化有着烂的历史。

Zhōnghuá wénhuà yǒuzhe cànlàn de lìshǐ.

Chinese culture has a splendid history.

愿你的未来一片烂。

Yuàn nǐ de wèilái yīpiàn cànlàn.

May your future be full of brilliance.

舞台上的灯光烂辉煌。

Wǔtái shàng de dēngguāng cànlàn huīhuáng.

The stage lights are magnificently brilliant.

他的成就如星光般烂永恒。

Tā de chéngjiù rú xīngguāng bān cànlàn yǒnghéng.

His achievements are as eternally brilliant as starlight.