How to Write 耀 (yào) — Meaning “to shine; dazzling”

Imagine a peacock with beautiful feathers (翟) standing in a strong spotlight (光). The combination of bright light and shiny feathers creates a dazzling, shining effect that matches the character's meaning.

The left part 光 must be written with the dot first, then vertical, then two strokes for the small part, and finally the horizontal stroke at the bottom. The right part 翟 starts with 羽 (feathers) on top, then 隹 (bird) below; be careful not to confuse the shape of 隹 with 住.

Both share the radical 羽 (feathers), but 耀 has 光 (light) on the left and means 'to shine', while 翻 has 番 (measure word) on the right and means 'to flip' or 'to turn over'. They look somewhat alike but have completely different meanings and uses.

耀 appears in common words like 耀眼 (dazzling) for strong light and 荣耀 (glory) for honor or achievement. It is used in formal and literary contexts to describe brilliant brightness or prestigious recognition, such as in awards or national achievements.

Common words containing 耀 include: 闪耀 (shǎn yào) — To shine / To glitter; 耀眼 (yào yǎn) — dazzling; glaring; 荣耀 (róng yào) — Glory; honor.