touch up painting; embellish writing
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesverb
to touch up or embellish a painting with color and detail; to add finishing touches
literaryA term from traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy, describing the delicate process of adding details and washes of color to enhance a piece.
Huà画
jiā家
zài在
shān山
shuǐ水
huà画
shàng上
shāo稍
jiā加
diǎn点
rǎn染
，
zhěng整
fú幅
huà画
biàn便
yǒu有
le了
líng灵
qì气
。
The artist added a few finishing touches to the landscape painting, giving the entire piece a sense of life.
Zhè这
fú幅
huà画
de的
yuǎn远
jǐng景
hái还
xū需
yào要
diǎn点
rǎn染
yī一
xià下
。
The distant view in this painting still needs some touching up.
verb
to embellish or polish writing; to add rhetorical flourishes
literaryA metaphor for polishing prose to make it more vivid or aesthetically pleasing. Often used in literary contexts.
Zhè这
piān篇
wén文
zhāng章
jīng经
tā他
miào妙
bǐ笔
diǎn点
rǎn染
，
lì立
kè刻
biàn变
dé得
shēng生
dòng动
yǒu有
qù趣
。
After being embellished by his skilled pen, this article immediately became vivid and interesting.
Zhè这
jù句
píng平
dàn淡
de的
miáo描
shù述
shāo稍
jiā加
diǎn点
rǎn染
，
jiù就
chéng成
le了
yī一
gè个
jīng精
cǎi彩
de的
bǐ比
yù喻
。
This plain description, with a little polishing, became a brilliant metaphor.
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Jīng经
tā他
yī一
fān番
diǎn点
rǎn染
，
kū枯
zào燥
de的
huì会
yì议
jì记
lù录
biàn变
dé得
kě可
dú读
xìng性
qiáng强
duō多
le了
。
After his embellishment, the dry meeting minutes became much more readable.