聪颖 is an elegant, literary adjective meaning 'bright' or 'gifted', especially in terms of intellectual quickness and natural aptitude. It combines 聪 (cōng), meaning 'acute hearing'—historically associated with mental alertness—and 颖 (yǐng), meaning 'ear of grain' or 'tip', symbolizing sharpness, precocity, and outstanding talent. Together, they evoke someone who grasps ideas swiftly and thinks incisively.

This word is commonly used to describe children or students with exceptional learning ability, but it can also apply to adults in formal or appreciative contexts—such as academic recommendations, biographical writing, or praise for creative insight. It carries a positive, slightly refined tone and appears more often in written Chinese than in casual speech. While not restricted to youth, it often implies innate intelligence rather than learned expertise.