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放在眼里 (fàng zài yǎn lǐ) — to regard as important, to care about; (mainly in negative constructions) to pay attention to, to take seriously

Definition

A colloquial verb meaning 'to pay attention to / take seriously' — used almost always in negatives (不/没 + 放在眼里) to mean 'not to regard as important'. Pairs naturally with the 把 construction (别把他的话放在眼里).

verb
to regard as importantto care about(mainly in negative constructions) to pay attention toto take seriously

Examples

  • ，放在眼里。
    Tā nà me qiān xū, gēn běn bù bǎ zì jǐ de chéng jì fàng zài yǎn lǐ.
    He is so modest that he hardly takes his own achievements seriously.
  • ，放在眼里。
    Zhè zhǒng xiǎo shì, wǒ gēn běn méi fàng zài yǎn lǐ.
    I didn't pay such a trivial matter any mind at all.
  • 放在眼里，。
    Bié bǎ tā de huà fàng zài yǎn lǐ, tā zhǐ shì kāi wán xiào.
    Don't take his words seriously; he's just joking.

Origin

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攵Written in full as攴pūhand, action
Sound part声符shēngfú
方
方fāng放fàng
Same sound today

放 uses 方 for its sound and 攵, a hand/action part, to mark an action of release.

Open 放 →

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

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

Open 在 →

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 →

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 裡; 里 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 里 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (里, 里面) it is 裡; in others (公里) it is 里 or 裏.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
衤Written in full as衣yīclothes
Sound part声符shēngfú
里
里lǐ裡lǐ
Same sound today

The form 裡 pairs 衤 (clothes) with 里 as a sound component.

Open 里 →
Appears in
Attitudes & OpinionsIdioms & Set Phrases

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