How to Write 璀 (cuǐ) — Meaning “Lustrous; bright”

Imagine a king (王) standing on a tall mountain (崔) holding a shining jewel that sparkles brightly. The king's crown reflects sunlight, making everything around him lustrous and resplendent. This image connects the jade radical and the lofty mountain to the meaning of brightness.

Start with the left radical 王 in 4 strokes, making it narrow and upright. Then write the right part 崔, which has 11 strokes: first the mountain (山) on top, then the bird (隹) below — ensure the horizontal strokes in 隹 are evenly spaced. A common mistake is writing the 隹 part too wide or misplacing the vertical strokes, so keep the right side balanced and slightly wider than the left.

The key difference is in the right-side component: 璀 has 崔 (mountain + bird), 瑁 has 冒 (cap or helmet), and 瑄 has 宣 (declare or announce). Visually, 崔 is taller with a mountain on top, while 冒 has a horizontal cap shape and 宣 has a roof and a sun. In meaning, 璀 refers to brightness or glitter, 瑁 is a specific type of jade tablet, and 瑄 is a ritual jade piece.

璀 is most commonly seen in the word 璀璨 (cuǐ càn), which means resplendent, magnificent, or dazzlingly bright. It is often used to describe sparkling stars, glittering jewels, or brilliant lights, especially in poetic or formal writing. For example, 璀璨的星空 means 'a resplendent starry sky,' and the word carries a strong positive, vivid connotation.

Common words containing 璀 include: 璀璨 (cuǐ càn) — Resplendent; magnificent; 璀璀 (cuǐ cuǐ) — Glittering; lustrous; 璀璨夺目 (cuǐ càn duó mù) — Dazzlingly brilliant.