高明
gāomíng · HSK 7
brilliant
💡 高 = tall/high + 明 = bright; high brightness = brilliant mind
高 means high or lofty; 明 means bright or clear (sun 日 + moon 月 together). A person whose intellect stands high and shines clearly is 高明 — brilliant, wise, masterful.
高 — pictograph of a tall building/tower
高 is a pictograph of a tall structure, likely a watchtower or multi-story gate, with a roof on top, an upper chamber, and a base below. From this concrete image of height it extended to the general meanings 'tall,' 'high,' and figuratively 'lofty' or 'noble.'