莹

瑩

yíng

玉 + 𫇦

Definitions

yíng (noun) luster; shine; glitter

Etymology

Simplified form of 瑩; fiery 火 like a gem 玉

About

莹, written with 艹 (grass) above 冖 (cover) above 玉 (jade), is the simplified form of 瑩. The traditional character combined multiple 火 (fire) components with jade to suggest the fiery luster of a precious stone. In the simplification, the fire components were dropped, but the core meaning persists: a gemstone of flawless purity and brilliant translucence, especially fine jade. This meaning later expanded, allowing 莹 to serve as an adjective for anything sparkling, clear, or luminously bright, and it became a popular choice for given names, symbolizing purity, clarity, and outstanding brightness.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Wu (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

她的名字叫莹莹。

Tā de míngzi jiào Yíngyíng.

Her name is Yingying.

莹莹是个好孩子。

Yíngyíng shì gè hǎo háizi.

Yingying is a good child.

宝石发出莹光。

Bǎoshí fāchū yíngguāng.

The gemstone emits a lustrous light.

她的眼睛莹莹有神。

Tā de yǎnjing yíngyíng yǒu shén.

Her eyes are bright and spirited.

月光下，湖面莹莹如镜。

Yuèguāng xià, húmiàn yíngyíng rú jìng.

Under the moonlight, the lake surface is as bright as a mirror.

这块玉莹润洁白，非常珍贵。

Zhè kuài yù yíngrùn jiébái, fēicháng zhēnguì.

This piece of jade is moist, bright, and pure white, very precious.

在灯光照耀下，钻石闪烁着莹莹的光芒。

Zài dēngguāng zhàoyào xià, zuànshí shǎnshuò zhe yíngyíng de guāngmáng.

Under the light, the diamond sparkles with a glittering radiance.

她佩戴的珍珠项链莹白透亮，衬托出她的优雅气质。

Tā pèidài de zhēnzhū xiàngliàn yíngbái tòuliàng, chèntuō chū tā de yōuyǎ qìzhì.

The pearl necklace she wears is bright white and translucent, accentuating her elegant demeanor.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 玉

Component: 𫇦

莹