不起眼 (bù qǐ yǎn) — inconspicuous; unremarkable; not standing out | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Means 'inconspicuous, not eye-catching' — usually describes appearance (a shop, outfit, sign) that blends in rather than attracting attention. Carries a slightly positive nuance in examples: modest-looking but often good in substance.

adjective

inconspicuousunremarkablenot standing out

Examples

不起眼，。
Zhè jiā diàn suī rán bù qǐ yǎn, dàn cài zuò dé tè bié hǎo chī.
Although this shop is inconspicuous, the food is especially delicious.
不起眼，。
Tā chuān dé hěn bù qǐ yǎn, kě shì hěn yǒu cái huá.
He dresses very unremarkably, but he is very talented.
不起眼，。
Nà ge biāo zhì tài bù qǐ yǎn le, wǒ chà diǎn méi kàn dào.
That sign was too inconspicuous; I almost didn't see it.

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.

起眼draw attention

起qǐraise眼yǎneye

动宾Verb + object

不 means not, and 起眼 suggests drawing attention, so 不起眼 is inconspicuous.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

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

走巳起

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

巳

巳sì起qǐ

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

起 is made from 走 and 巳: 走 is the part connected with walking or running, and 巳 gives the sound.

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.

Appears in

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