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独眼龙 (dú yǎn lóng) — a person blind in one eye (informal, often teasing or derogatory)

Definition

An informal, often teasing or insulting label for a person blind in one eye — literally 'one-eyed dragon.' Using it directly to someone is rude.

noun
a person blind in one eye (informal, often teasing or derogatory)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 独眼龙，。
    Nà ge dú yǎn lóng shì tā men de lǎo duì shǒu, hěn lì hài.
    That one-eyed man is their old opponent, very formidable.
  • 独眼龙，。
    Diàn yǐng lǐ yǒu gè dú yǎn lóng de jué sè, wǔ yì gāo qiáng.
    There's a one-eyed character in the movie with excellent martial arts skills.
  • 独眼龙，。
    Nǐ bié jiào tā dú yǎn lóng, zhè yàng bù lǐ mào.
    Don't call him 'one-eyed dragon' — that's impolite.

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.

独眼one-eyed
独dúsingle眼yǎneye
偏正Modifier + head
龙lóngdragon

独 means single and 眼 means eye, so 独眼 means having one eye; 龙 adds a teasing image, pointing to a one-eyed person.

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 獨; 独 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犭Written in full as犬quǎn
Sound part声符shēngfú
蜀
蜀shǔ獨dú
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 獨 pairs 犬 (dog) with 蜀, which gives the sound; the simplified 独 is a shorthand.

Open 独 →

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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 龍; 龙 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 龍 originally drew a sacred creature with a large mouth and a snake-like body; the simplified 龙 is the form written here.

Open 龙 →
Appears in
Injury & Disability

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