闪

• Pinyin: shǎn
• Hanzi breakdown: 闪 = 门 (door) + 人 (person) — a person seen fleetingly through a doorway, hence flash or dodge

Meaning

To flash; to sparkle; to dodge quickly. Describes a sudden burst of light or a quick evasive movement.

Two main uses: (1) a sudden burst or flicker of light — 闪光 (flash), 闪烁 (twinkle); (2) to dodge or move quickly — 闪开 (move aside), 闪躲 (dodge). Also used for 闪腰 (to throw out one's back from a sudden movement).

Examples

1. 天空中闪了一道亮光。 A bright light flashed across the sky.
2. 她闪到一边，让后面的人先过。 She moved to one side to let the person behind pass first.
3. 星星在夜空中不停地闪。 The stars keep twinkling in the night sky.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, everyday, action

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 快闪开，车来了！(Quick, move aside — a car is coming!)
• 远处的灯光一闪一闪的。(The lights in the distance are flickering.)

Don't Say

• 我闪了一下眼睛 meaning 'I blinked' (闪 means to flash or dodge — for blinking, use 眨眼)

Origin & History

The character 闪 places 人 (person) inside 门 (door), evoking a person glimpsed briefly through a doorway — a fleeting flash.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal