聪明 (cōngmíng) — smart
HSK 1 | adjective | smart, clever, intelligent
聪明 (cōngmíng)
An adjective describing someone with sharp intelligence or quick understanding. It is often used as a compliment for children and adults alike.
Meanings
- [adjective] Smart, clever, intelligent.
- [adjective] Quick-witted, sharp-minded.
Example Sentences
这个孩子很聪明，学东西很快。 Zhège háizi hěn cōngmíng, xué dōngxi hěn kuài. This child is very smart and learns things quickly.
你真聪明，一下子就想到了答案。 Nǐ zhēn cōngmíng, yīxiàzi jiù xiǎngdào le dá'àn. You are really clever, you thought of the answer right away.
她不仅漂亮，而且很聪明。 Tā bùjǐn piàoliang, érqiě hěn cōngmíng. She is not only beautiful but also very intelligent.
老师说我们班的同学都很聪明。 Lǎoshī shuō wǒmen bān de tóngxué dōu hěn cōngmíng. The teacher said all the students in our class are very smart.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 很聪明 (hěn cōngmíng) | very smart |
| 聪明的学生 (cōngmíng de xuésheng) | smart student |
| 聪明伶俐 (cōngmíng línglì) | bright and clever |
| 装聪明 (zhuāng cōngmíng) | pretend to be smart |
| 真聪明 (zhēn cōngmíng) | truly clever |
Memory Hook
聪 contains the radical for ear (耳) plus heart (心), suggesting someone who hears and understands deeply. A person with keen ears and a sharp mind is 聪明.