眼神 (yǎn shén) — (noun) the expression or emotion in one's eyes;… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

眼神 is the look or expression in someone's eyes — what their eyes 'say'. Compare 眼色 (a deliberate glance used as a signal) and 目光 (a gaze, often where someone is looking or figuratively their vision/foresight).

noun

the expression or emotion in one's eyesthe look in someone's eyesa meaningful glance (exchanged between people)

Measure word · 个

Examples

眼神。
Tā de yǎn shén lǐ chōng mǎn le wēn róu.
Her eyes were full of tenderness.
眼神，。
Tā men jiāo huàn le yí xià yǎn shén, jiù míng bai le duì fāng de yì si.
They exchanged a glance and immediately understood each other.
眼神，？
Nǐ de yǎn shén bú duì, nǐ shì bu shì zài sā huǎng le ba?
The look in your eyes isn't right — you're lying, aren't you?

Origin

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.

The 神 seen in 眼 gives the look or emotion carried by the eyes.

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.

目艮眼

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.

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

示示shìgod; deity

Sound part声符shēngfú

申

申shēn神shén

Same sound today

The older form 申 drew lightning, which the ancients regarded as divine; 神 adds 示 (god/deity) to mark that meaning.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Body Parts Emotions & Feelings 3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words 5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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