liàn
潋
ripples; water brimming and overflowing
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesnoun
ripples; wavelets (on water)
literaryA poetic and somewhat literary term for gentle, shimmering waves on the surface of water. Not used in everyday speech.
Wēi微
fēng风
chuī吹
guò过
，
hú湖
miàn面
fàn泛
qǐ起
céng层
céng层
liàn潋
yàn滟
。
A gentle breeze blew, raising layers of shimmering ripples on the lake's surface.
Yáng阳
guāng光
xià下
，
shuǐ水
guāng光
liàn潋
yàn滟
，
jǐng景
sè色
mí迷
rén人
。
Under the sunlight, the sparkling water with its ripples makes for a captivating scene.
adjective/adverb
brimming and overflowing (of water); shimmering; glistening
literaryAlmost always used in the fixed literary term '潋滟 (liàn yàn)', describing water that is full, shimmering, and overflowing with light. It depicts a beautiful, dynamic quality of water.
Xī西
Hú湖
zài在
yǔ雨
zhōng中
xiǎn显
dé得
gèng更
jiā加
liàn潋
yàn滟
dòng动
rén人
。
West Lake appeared even more shimmering and enchanting in the rain.
Bēi杯
zhōng中
de的
měi美
jiǔ酒
liàn潋
yàn滟
zhe着
hǔ琥
pò珀
sè色
de的
guāng光
máng芒
。
The fine wine in the glass glistened with an amber glow.
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Sū苏
Shì轼
yǒu有
shī诗
yún云
：
『『
Shuǐ水
guāng光
liàn潋
yàn滟
qíng晴
fāng方
hǎo好
。
』』
Su Shi wrote in his poem: 'The shimmering water looks its best under clear skies.'