眠 (mián) — (bound form) sleep; dormancy (used in compounds)
Definition
眠 is a bound form meaning 'sleep' or 'dormancy' — it never stands alone and only appears inside set compounds (失眠 insomnia, 冬眠 hibernation, 安眠 to sleep peacefully).
bound form
sleepdormancy (used in compounds)
Examples
- 。Chōng zú de shuì mián duì jiàn kāng hěn zhòng yào.Getting enough sleep is very important for health.
- ，。Tā zuì jìn zǒng shì shī mián, xū yào qù kàn yī shēng.He has been suffering from insomnia lately and needs to see a doctor.
- 。Xióng dào le dōng tiān jiù huì kāi shǐ dōng mián.Bears begin hibernation when winter comes.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
眠 uses 目 (eye) to show the idea of closing the eyes, with 民 giving the sound.
Appears in
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