闪耀 (shǎn yào) is a verb meaning 'to shine brightly' or 'to glitter'—often with brilliance, intensity, or visual prominence. The first character 闪 (shǎn) means 'to flash' or 'to flicker', suggesting sudden, dynamic light; the second character 耀 (yào) means 'to shine', 'to illuminate', or 'to dazzle', emphasizing sustained radiance and brilliance. Together, they form a compound that conveys vivid, eye-catching luminosity—not just passive brightness, but active, often dazzling light emission.

This word is commonly used for stars, jewelry, stage lights, eyes filled with emotion, or even metaphorical contexts like talent or charisma 'shining'. It appears frequently in descriptive writing, poetry, advertising, and everyday speech when emphasizing exceptional visual impact or excellence. While it can describe natural phenomena (e.g., stars), it carries a slightly elevated or literary tone compared to simpler verbs like 亮 (liàng, 'to be bright').