烘云托月 hōng yún tuō yuè

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. to shade in the clouds to offset the moon (idiom); fig. a foil
  2. a contrasting character to a main hero

CHARACTERS

烘 hōng
HSK 6
bake, roast; dry by fire
云 yún
HSK 4
say, speak; clouds
托 tuō
HSK 5
to hold up with palm; to support, rely on
月 yuè
HSK 1
moon; month; KangXi radical 74