set off; serve as a foil
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to set off; to serve as a foil; to highlight by contrast
literaryOften used in literary, artistic, or descriptive contexts to describe how one element makes another stand out more prominently. It implies an enhancing or complementary background relationship.
Zhè这
fú幅
huà画
yòng用
dàn淡
yǎ雅
de的
bèi背
jǐng景
hōng烘
chèn衬
chū出
qián前
jǐng景
xiān鲜
yàn艳
de的
huā花
duǒ朵
。
This painting uses a subdued background to set off the bright flowers in the foreground.
Tā他
de的
chén沉
mò默
qià恰
dào到
hǎo好
chù处
dì地
hōng烘
chèn衬
le了
yǎn演
jiǎng讲
zhě者
de的
jī激
qíng情
。
His silence served as a perfect foil to the speaker's passion.
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Zài在
wén文
xué学
zhōng中
，
cì次
yào要
qíng情
jié节
cháng常
yòng用
lái来
hōng烘
chèn衬
zhǔ主
xiàn线
。
In literature, subplots are often used to highlight the main storyline.
Yīn音
yuè乐
qīng轻
róu柔
dì地
hōng烘
chèn衬
zhe着
wēn温
xīn馨
de的
chǎng场
jǐng景
。
The music softly sets off the warm atmosphere of the scene.