Bling

American Slang Term American ★★★★☆ Common informal
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Meaning: Flashy, expensive jewelry or accessories; ostentatious displays of wealth.

闪亮昂贵的珠宝首饰;炫耀财富的饰品。
Joyas o accesorios llamativos y caros; ostentación de riqueza.
派手で高価なジュエリーやアクセサリー。富を見せびらかす装飾品。
번쩍번쩍한 고가의 보석이나 액세서리. 과시적인 부의 상징.

'Bling' (or 'bling-bling') refers to shiny, expensive jewelry — diamond chains, gold watches, bejeweled accessories. It represents the flashy side of wealth. The word itself mimics the sound or sight of light sparkling off jewels.

'Bling'(或'bling-bling')指闪亮昂贵的珠宝——钻石项链、金表、镶满宝石的配饰。它代表财富张扬的一面。这个词本身模仿了光线在珠宝上闪烁的声音或画面。
'Bling' (o 'bling-bling') se refiere a joyas brillantes y caras: cadenas de diamantes, relojes de oro, accesorios enjoyados. Representa el lado llamativo de la riqueza. La propia palabra imita el sonido o la imagen de la luz centelleando sobre las joyas.
「bling」(または「bling-bling」)はキラキラの高価なジュエリー——ダイヤのチェーン、金の時計、宝石をちりばめたアクセサリーなどを指す。富の派手な側面を象徴する言葉。宝石に光が反射してキラキラ輝く様子を音や見た目で模した擬態語が由来。
'bling'(또는 'bling-bling')은 반짝이는 고가 보석 — 다이아몬드 체인, 금 시계, 보석 박힌 액세서리 — 을 가리킨다. 부의 화려한 면을 상징한다. 단어 자체가 보석에서 빛이 반짝이는 소리나 모습을 흉내 낸 것이다.

Examples

  1. He showed up covered in bling — chains, rings, everything.
    他全身挂满了亮闪闪的首饰——项链、戒指,应有尽有。
    Apareció cubierto de bling — cadenas, anillos, de todo.
    彼はキラキラのアクセサリーだらけで現れたよ——チェーン、指輪、全部盛り。
    그는 번쩍번쩍한 액세서리 범벅으로 나타났어 — 체인, 반지, 전부 다.
  2. She doesn't do subtle — it's all about the bling.
    她从不低调——就喜欢各种闪闪发光的东西。
    Ella no sabe ser discreta — todo tiene que ser bling y brillo.
    彼女は控えめなの無理なんだよ——全部キラキラ派手なのが好きなの。
    그녀는 은근한 거 안 해 — 전부 화려하고 번쩍이는 걸 좋아해.
  3. The rapper's bling collection is worth millions.
    那个说唱歌手的珠宝收藏价值数百万。
    La colección de joyas del rapero vale millones.
    あのラッパーのジュエリーコレクションは数億円の価値があるよ。
    그 래퍼의 보석 컬렉션은 수십억 원 가치가 있대.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: hip-hop, fashion, pop culture, casual conversation

Tone: flashy, admiring or mocking

✓ Do Say

  • Nice bling!
    好闪的首饰!
    ¡Qué bling tan guapo!
    いいアクセしてるね!
    멋진 장신구네!
  • He loves his bling.
    他就爱戴闪亮的东西。
    Le encanta el bling.
    彼はキラキラのアクセが大好きなんだ。
    그는 번쩍이는 거 좋아해.

✗ Don't Say

  • Can sound dated to Gen Z — the term peaked in the early 2000s but is still understood
    对Z世代来说可能有点过时——这个词在2000年代初最流行,但现在仍然能被理解
    Puede sonar anticuado para la Gen Z — el término alcanzó su pico a principios de los 2000, pero sigue siendo entendido
    Z世代には古く聞こえるかも——2000年代前半にピークを迎えた言葉だが、今でも通じる
    Z세대에게는 촌스럽게 들릴 수 있다 — 2000년대 초반에 절정이었지만 여전히 통하는 표현이다

Origin & History

Coined in hip-hop culture, first used by rapper B.G. in his 1999 song 'Bling Bling.' Added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2003. The word is onomatopoetic — imitating the sparkle of jewels.

Cultural Context

Era: 1999 onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

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