Definitions

yàn (adjective) colorful; splendid; gaudy
yàn (adjective) amorous; romantic

Etymology

Lush  and sexy 

About

The character "艳" in its present simplified form derives from the traditional character "豔", which is structurally composed of "豐" indicating abundance and "色" representing color or beauty, an etymology that initially conveyed a sense of rich and dazzling physical appearance. Over centuries, its application extended beyond mere descriptive vividness or resplendent color to encompass more abstract qualities of allure, often within romantic or aesthetic contexts, reflecting a gradual semantic broadening. The simplified form "艳" retains the foundational "色" component while replacing the complex "豐" with "丰", a graphical simplification that still carries connotations of fullness or prosperity, thereby preserving the core idea of abundant beauty without altering its essential meaning.

Example Sentences Hide

她的裙子很鲜

Tā de qúnzi hěn xiānyàn.

Her dress is very bright and colorful.

春天的花朵十分丽。

Chūntiān de huāduǒ shífēn yànlì.

The spring flowers are extremely gorgeous.

阳高照,适合出游。

Yànyáng gāo zhào, shìhé chūyóu.

The bright sun is shining high, perfect for an outing.

这幅画的色彩过于浓

Zhè fú huà de sècǎi guòyú nóngyàn.

The colors in this painting are too gaudy.

她被鲜花衬托得更加明

Tā bèi xiānhuā chèntuō de gèngjiā míngyàn.

Set off by the fresh flowers, she appeared even more radiant.

这个故事的情节有些香

Zhège gùshì de qíngjié yǒuxiē xiāngyàn.

The plot of this story is somewhat erotic.

羡别人的生活是一种智慧。

Bù yànxiàn biérén de shēnghuó shì yī zhǒng zhìhuì.

Not coveting other people's lives is a kind of wisdom.

他文笔华丽,辞藻鲜夺目。

Tā wénbǐ huálì, cízǎo xiānyàn duómù.

His writing style is ornate, with dazzlingly brilliant diction.