Explanation at your level:
This word means not bright. You use it when the sun goes down. If you cannot see well, the room is 昏暗.
Use this word to describe places that are not very bright. It is common to say a room is 昏暗 when you want to sleep or relax.
昏暗 describes a lack of light. It is often used to describe atmosphere in stories or to complain about poor lighting in a public place.
Beyond just light levels, 昏暗 often suggests a mood. It can imply a romantic, mysterious, or even slightly depressing environment in literature.
In advanced contexts, 昏暗 can be used metaphorically to describe a future that is uncertain or 'dim'. It adds a layer of literary depth to descriptions.
Mastery of 昏暗 involves understanding its nuanced usage in classical poetry and modern prose. It is a versatile term for shifting light and psychological states.
Wort in 30 Sekunden
- It means dim.
- Used for lighting.
- Not pitch black.
- Describes mood.
When we talk about 昏暗 (hūn àn), we are describing a setting that is not quite dark, but certainly not bright. Think of a room right after sunset or a hallway with a flickering, weak lightbulb.
It is a word that carries a specific mood. It is not just about the physics of light; it often implies a sense of mystery, coziness, or even a slight bit of gloominess depending on the context.
The word 昏 (hūn) originally referred to the time of dusk or twilight, often associated with the sun setting. The character combines the sun symbol with a sign for 'person' or 'evening'.
The character 暗 (àn) represents 'dark' or 'hidden'. Together, they create a compound that perfectly captures the transitional state of light fading away into the shadows of the evening.
You use 昏暗 when you want to describe a physical space. It is very common to hear it paired with words like 'light' (光线) or 'room' (房间).
In formal writing, it can be used to set a scene in a novel. In daily life, you might say, 'The street lights are too dim,' to complain about safety or visibility.
1. 昏暗不明: Unclear or ambiguous situation. 2. 灯火昏暗: Dimly lit lamps. 3. 昏暗无光: Completely lacking light. 4. 昏暗角落: A dark, hidden corner. 5. 暮色昏暗: The dimness of twilight.
As an adjective, 昏暗 can be used directly before a noun or as a predicate. For example, '昏暗的灯光' (dim light) or '灯光很昏暗' (the light is very dim).
The pronunciation is hūn (high level tone) and àn (falling tone). It is a standard descriptive adjective in Mandarin Chinese.
Fun Fact
Sun symbol used
Pronunciation Guide
Mandarin tones
Mandarin tones
Common Errors
- Tone mistakes
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Fortgeschritten
Grammar to Know
Adjective usage
Very dim
Examples by Level
The room is dim.
房间很昏暗。
Adjective usage
The light is too dim for reading.
He walked into the dim hallway.
The sunset made the sky look dim.
I prefer a dim environment.
The street was dim at night.
The candle gave a dim light.
The basement is very dim.
Is the room too dim?
The restaurant had a dim, romantic atmosphere.
She squinted in the dim light.
The corridor was long and dim.
His eyes adjusted to the dim surroundings.
The shop was dim and dusty.
They sat in a dim corner.
The movie theater was dim.
The lamp provided a dim glow.
The dim light cast long shadows.
He felt a sense of unease in the dim room.
The future looked dim for the company.
She preferred the dim lighting of the cafe.
The dim glow of the screen lit his face.
The attic was dim and quiet.
The dimness of the room made him sleepy.
They whispered in the dim light.
The dim prospects of the project worried everyone.
A dim recollection of the event surfaced.
The dim light of dawn began to break.
He lived in a dim, secluded house.
The dim corridors of the library were silent.
Her dim expression hid her true thoughts.
The dim reality of the situation hit him.
They navigated the dim path carefully.
The dim, flickering candles created a gothic mood.
His dim perception of the truth was misleading.
The dim, cavernous hall echoed with whispers.
A dim light of hope remained in his heart.
The dim, atmospheric setting was perfect.
The dim, ancient ruins were mysterious.
The dim, hazy horizon signaled the end.
The dim, muted colors of the painting were beautiful.
Häufige Kollokationen
Idioms & Expressions
"昏暗不明"
unclear
The future is unclear.
formalEasily Confused
both mean dark
黑暗 is total darkness
Dark room vs Pitch black
Sentence Patterns
Subject is 昏暗
The room is dim.
Wortfamilie
Nouns
Adjectives
Verwandt
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
Häufige Fehler
昏暗 implies some light exists
Tips
Sun Setting
Remember the sun character.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Sun + Person = Dusk
Visual Association
Sun setting
Word Web
Herausforderung
Describe your room
Wortherkunft
Chinese
Original meaning: dusk/dark
Kultureller Kontext
None
N/A
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Home
- The room is dim
Conversation Starters
"Do you like dim rooms?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a dim place.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
1 FragenIt is dim, not pitch black.
Teste dich selbst
The room is ___.
Context of light
Ergebnis: /1
Summary
昏暗 means a space that is not bright but not completely dark.
- It means dim.
- Used for lighting.
- Not pitch black.
- Describes mood.
Sun Setting
Remember the sun character.
