盲点 (máng diǎn) — blind spot (literal in the eye or figurative in…

Definition

noun

blind spot (literal in the eye or figurative in knowledge/judgment)

盲点。
Yī shēng jiǎn chá le wǒ de máng diǎn.
The doctor examined my blind spot.
盲点。
Zài zhè ge wèn tí shàng wǒ yǒu hěn duō máng diǎn.
I have many blind spots on this issue.
盲点。
Wǒ men yīng gāi yì shí dào zì jǐ de wén huà máng diǎn.
We should be aware of our own cultural blind spots.

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.

盲 gives the idea of blind, and 点 is a point or spot, making a blind spot.

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.

亡目盲

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

亡

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

盲 is made from 目, meaning “eye”, plus 亡, which gives the sound. The eye part relates to the meaning of blindness.

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 點; 点 is its simplified writing.

黑占點

Meaning part形符xíngfú

黑黑hēiblack

Sound part声符shēngfú

占

占zhàn點diǎn(r)

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 點 pairs 黑 (black) with 占 for its sound; the simplified 点 is a later abbreviation.

Appears in