Definition

Adjective: - Sparkling; glistening; shimmering: Describes a bright, clear, and lively light reflected from a smooth or transparent surface, often creating a beautiful, captivating, or twinkling effect. It implies a pure, vibrant, and often moving quality of light.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Mặt hồ long lanh dưới ánh trăng. (The lake surface glistened under the moonlight.)
  • Cô ấy có đôi mắt đen long lanh. (She has dark, sparkling eyes.)
  • Những giọt sương long lanh trên lá cây. (The dewdrops shimmered on the leaves.)

Advanced Usage

• "long lanh nước mắt": eyes brimming with (sparkling) tears.
  • Nghe câu chuyện cảm động, đôi mắt cô bé long lanh nước mắt. (Listening to the touching story, the little girl's eyes glistened with tears.)
• Used to describe not just visual light, but also a figurative, lively, and captivating quality.
  • Giọng hát cô ấy long lanh như pha lê. (Her singing voice is crystal-clear and sparkling.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lấp lánh (adj): Glittering, twinkling. Often used for many small, intermittent points of light (e.g., stars, sequins). often implies a smoother, more fluid reflection.
• Lóng lánh (adj): A less common variant with a very similar meaning to .
• Sáng long lanh (phrase): To shine/sparkle brilliantly.

Synonyms

• Lấp lánh: glittering, twinkling.
• Lấp lửng: flickering, glimmering (softer, less defined than ).
• Sáng lấp lánh: shining brightly.

Related Phrases

• Ánh mắt long lanh: a sparkling gaze.
• Nụ cười long lanh: a radiant, sparkling smile (figurative use).
• Vẻ long lanh: a sparkling/shimmery appearance.

Related Idioms

• "Đôi mắt là cửa sổ tâm hồn" (Eyes are the windows to the soul): This common saying is often evoked when describing , as they are seen to reflect inner vitality, emotion, or purity.

adj

1. sparkling; glistening