眼睁睁 (yǎn zhēng zhēng) — (verb phrase) to watch helplessly, to look on without being able to intervene; to stare wide-eyed (at something distressing)
Definition
An adverbial phrase (often paired with 地) meaning 'watch helplessly' as something bad happens — emphasizes the inability to act, not the staring. Used only in distressing contexts.
verb
(verb phrase) to watch helplesslyto look on without being able to interveneto stare wide-eyed (at something distressing)
Examples
- 眼睁睁。Tā zhǐ néng yǎn zhēng zhēng dì kàn zhe xiǎo tōu pǎo diào le.He could only watch helplessly as the thief ran away.
- 眼睁睁。Wǒ men yǎn zhēng zhēng dì kàn zhe hé shuǐ bǎ fáng zi chōng zǒu le.We watched helplessly as the river washed the house away.
- 眼睁睁。Yī shēng yǎn zhēng zhēng dì kàn zhe bìng rén de shēng mìng yì diǎn diǎn xiāo shī.The doctor watched helplessly as the patient's life slipped away little by little.
Appears in
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