发暗

發暗

fā'àn

verb

Meanings

1 to darken
2 to become dim
3 to tarnish (of metal)
4 to lose luster

Characters

to emit; to become

Examples

这块银器放久了开始发暗。

Zhè kuài yínqì fàng jiǔ le kāishǐ fā'àn.

This silverware has been sitting too long and is starting to tarnish.

天色渐渐发暗，要下雨了。

Tiānsè jiànjiàn fā'àn, yào xiàyǔ le.

The sky is gradually darkening — it's going to rain.

Tips

usage

发 + adjective is a productive Chinese pattern meaning 'to take on (that quality)'. Compare 发亮 (to start gleaming), 发红 (to redden), 发黄 (to yellow). Use 发暗 for skin/metal/sky losing brightness, not for rooms (use 变暗).

Stroke Order

发 fā

暗 àn