直勾勾 (zhí gōu gōu) — (of eyes) staring fixedly; with a fixed, blank stare

Definition

A vivid adverbial meaning 'staring fixedly / with a blank, unblinking gaze', usually about eyes. Use it before 地 + 看/盯 to paint a picture of someone lost in thought or staring rudely.

bound form
(of eyes) staring fixedlywith a fixedblank stare

Examples

  • 直勾勾，。
    Tā zhí gōu gōu dì kàn zhe chuāng wài, hǎo xiàng zài fā dāi.
    He stared blankly out the window, as if in a daze.
  • 直勾勾，。
    Bié zhí gōu gōu dì dīng zhe bié rén kàn, hěn bù lǐ mào.
    Don't stare fixedly at others; it's very rude.
  • 直勾勾，。
    Tā yǎn jing zhí gōu gōu de, yí jù huà yě bù shuō.
    Her eyes were fixed and she didn't say a word.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

直zhístraight
勾勾suffix
勾gōu勾gōu

直勾勾 uses 直 to suggest fixed direction and 勾勾 to intensify the stare.

Characters in this word

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

The earliest form of 直 pairs 目, an eye, with an unclear stroke 丨.

Open 直 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 勾 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 勾 →

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