梦游 (mèng yóu) — sleepwalking; to sleepwalk | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

梦游 (mèngyóu) is both the noun 'sleepwalking' and the verb 'to sleepwalk' — refers to the sleep disorder itself and the act of doing it, often during childhood.

sleepwalkingto sleepwalk

Examples

梦游，。
Tā zuó tiān yè lǐ mèng yóu le, zǒu dào chú fáng yòu huí qù le.
He sleepwalked last night, walked to the kitchen and went back.
梦游。
mèng yóu Shì yì zhǒng shuì mián zhàng ài.
Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder.
梦游，。
Wǒ xiǎo shí hou jīng cháng mèng yóu, xiàn zài hǎo le.
I often sleepwalked as a child, but I'm fine now.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

The “梦” dream and “游” walk together describe walking in dreams.

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 夢; 梦 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

瞢

瞢méng夢mèng

Same sound today

The traditional form 夢 pairs 夕 (night) with 瞢, which gives the sound; its older form showed a person lying with an eye emphasized.

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

水水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

斿

斿yóu游yóu

Same sound today

游 combines 水 (water) with 斿, which gives the sound yóu and also relates to travelling.

Appears in

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