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眼冒金星 (yǎn mào jīn xīng) — to see stars (after being hit on the head); to be dazed

Definition

An idiom for the moment your vision sparks with 'gold stars' — literally seeing stars from a head blow, a fall, or being overwhelmed by dizziness or rage. A vivid, slightly humorous way to describe being dazed.

idiom
to see stars (after being hit on the head)to be dazed

Examples

  • ，眼冒金星。
    Tā bèi qiú dǎ zhòng nǎo dài, dùn shí yǎn mào jīn xīng.
    He got hit in the head by the ball and immediately saw stars.
  • ，眼冒金星，。
    Shuāi le yì jiāo zhī hòu, wǒ yǎn mào jīn xīng, bàn tiān méi zhàn qǐ lái.
    After falling, I saw stars and couldn't get up for a while.
  • ，眼冒金星。
    Tīng dào nà ge xiāo xi, tā qì dé yǎn mào jīn xīng.
    Hearing that news, he was so angry he saw stars.

Origin

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.

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 →

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mùeyes
Sound part声符shēngfú
冃
冃mào冒mào
Same sound today

冒 was built from 冃, a hat used for the sound, plus 目, eyes, as the meaning part.

Open 冒 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

金 was drawn with marks for two pieces of metal, along with a part that gave its sound; it first meant copper, then metals and gold.

Open 金 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

The top of 星 is a later simplified form of 晶, twinkling stars; the bottom 生 shows the sound.

Open 星 →
Appears in
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