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碍眼 (ài yǎn) — to be an eyesore, to offend the eye; to be in the way, to obstruct the view

Definition

Means something is ugly or out of place and therefore unpleasant to look at — 'an eyesore' — or physically blocking the view, as when a person or object is in the way.

to be an eyesoreto offend the eyeto be in the wayto obstruct the view

Examples

  • 碍眼。
    Zhè ge jiù shā fā fàng zài kè tīng tài ài yǎn le.
    This old sofa is such an eyesore in the living room.
  • 碍眼，。
    Nà duī lā jī zài mén kǒu hěn ài yǎn, kuài bān zǒu ba.
    That pile of trash is really in the way at the door — move it away quickly.
  • ，。
    Tā zhàn zài qián miàn ài le wǒ de yǎn, wǒ shén me dōu kàn bú jiàn.
    He stood in front and blocked my view — I couldn't see anything.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

碍àiobstruct
眼yǎneye

'碍' means to obstruct or hinder, and '眼' is the eye; together it describes something that obstructs the eye.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 礙; 碍 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
石石shí
Sound part声符shēngfú
疑
疑yí礙ài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 礙 combines 石 (stone) with 疑 as a sound part.

Open 碍 →

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 →
Appears in
Senses

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