挤眉弄眼 (jǐ méi nòng yǎn) — to make eyes at someone; to wink and twitch one's eyebrows (often flirtatiously or conspiratorially)

Definition

An idiom for winking, twitching the eyebrows, and making little eye signals — usually to flirt, share a secret, or signal someone without speaking.

idiom
to make eyes at someoneto wink and twitch one's eyebrows (often flirtatiously or conspiratorially)

Examples

  • 挤眉弄眼，。
    Tā zài zhuō zi duì miàn bù tíng dì jǐ méi nòng yǎn, xiǎng ràng wǒ zhù yì tā de bēi zi.
    She kept ∼ across the table, trying to get me to notice her glass.
  • 挤眉弄眼，。
    Liǎng gè xiǎo hái hù xiāng jǐ méi nòng yǎn, tōu tōu liū chū le jiào shì.
    The two kids ∼ at each other and sneaked out of the classroom.
  • 挤眉弄眼，。
    Bié jǐ méi nòng yǎn le, yǒu shén me huà zhí jiē shuō ba.
    Stop ∼, just say whatever you have to say directly.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

挤眉squeeze eyebrows
挤jǐsqueeze眉méieyebrow
动宾Verb + object
弄眼move eyes
弄nòngmove眼yǎneye
动宾Verb + object

挤眉 squeezes the eyebrows, and 弄眼 moves the eyes, together making a wink or flirtatious signal.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 擠; 挤 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
齊
齊qí擠jǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 擠 pairs 扌 (hand) with 齊, a sound part; the simplified 挤 is a later shorthand.

Open 挤 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

眉 originally showed 𠃜, hair, above 目, an eye.

Open 眉 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The form 弄 combines 玉 (jade) with 廾 (hands), showing hands touching or handling jade.

Open 弄 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
目目mùeye
Sound part声符shēngfú
艮
艮gèn眼yǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

眼 combines 目, which is an eye, with 艮, which gives the character's sound.

Open 眼 →

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