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回光返照
回光返照
回光返照
回光返照
回光返照
回光返照
回光返照
回光返照
回光返照
回光返照

回光返照 — “Returning light, reflecting glow”

回光返照 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “a temporary revival of spirits, a final burst of activity or energy, or a brief resurgence of vitality or prosperity before collapse or death; also refers to the brief glow of the setting sun after it has disappeared”. Literally, “returning light, reflecting glow”.

Frequency

回光返照 Pronunciation and Pinyin

回光返照 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order
CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
回
huí6return, reply, revolve
光
guāng6light, honor, bare, smooth, gone
返
fǎn7return or go back
照
zhào13to shine, photograph, or care for

Example Sentence with 回光返照

他病重期间,有几天突然精神好转,大家都以为是奇迹,没想到只是回光返照。
During his severe illness, he suddenly felt better for a few days, and everyone thought it was a miracle, but it turned out to be just a brief rally before his condition worsened.

Origin and Story of 回光返照

After Jia Baoyu lost his precious 'Psychic Jade,' which was considered his lifeblood, he became disoriented and distraught.

His grandmother, Jia Mu, and his mother, Lady Wang, decided to arrange his marriage to Xue Baochai, hoping it would bring good fortune and cheer him up.

This news was a severe blow to Lin Daiyu, causing her to vomit blood in anger. From then on, she became dejected, pale, and unable to recover.

On the very night of Baoyu's wedding, Lin Daiyu fell gravely ill. She experienced a brief, final rally of energy, but it didn't last long, and she soon died of sorrow and despair.

Idioms Related to 回光返照

Synonyms of 回光返照

  • huí回guāng光fǎn反zhào照temporary revival before collapse

Antonyms of 回光返照

  • shēng生jī机bó勃bó勃Vibrant and full of vitality

More idioms starting with 回

  • huí回wèi味wú无qióng穷endless aftertaste
  • huí回chēn嗔zuò作xǐ喜turn anger into joy
  • huí回tiān天zhī之lì力power to reverse a desperate situation
  • huí回tiān天fá乏shù术powerless to reverse a desperate situation
  • huí回tiān天dǎo倒rì日reverse an irreversible situation
  • huí回tiān天zài再zào造reverse a desperate situation and restore
  • huí回tiān天wǎn挽rì日turn the tide in a desperate situation
  • huí回tiān天wú无lì力powerless to reverse a dire situation
  • huí回tiān天zhuǎn转dì地profoundly alter a situation or attitude
  • huí回tiān天zhuǎn转rì日reverse an irreversible situation
  • huí回tiān天yùn运dǒu斗reverse a desperate situation

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Questions about 回光返照

What does 回光返照 mean?

回光返照 (huí guāng fǎn zhào) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “a temporary revival of spirits, a final burst of activity or energy, or a brief resurgence of vitality or prosperity before collapse or death; also refers to the brief glow of the setting sun after it has disappeared”.

How do you pronounce 回光返照?

回光返照 is pronounced huí guāng fǎn zhào in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 回光返照 literally mean?

Literally, 回光返照 means “returning light, reflecting glow”. It is used to mean “a temporary revival of spirits, a final burst of activity or energy, or a brief resurgence of vitality or prosperity before collapse or death; also refers to the brief glow of the setting sun after it has disappeared”.

Where does 回光返照 come from?

回光返照 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to the modern era. The full story is on this page.

What is the Chinese definition of 回光返照?

指太阳刚落山时,由于光线反射而发生的天空中短时发亮的现象。比喻人死前精神突然兴奋。也比喻事物灭亡前夕的表面兴旺。

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