注视 (zhù shì) — to gaze at, to watch attentively

Definition

注视 means to watch attentively, often with focused, prolonged attention. It is more sustained and serious than 盯 (a sharp, fixed stare), and lighter than 凝视 (an intense, almost unblinking gaze).

verb
to gaze atto watch attentively

Examples

  • 注视
    Tā zhù shì zhe hēi bǎn shàng de zì, rèn zhēn tīng lǎo shī jiǎng jiě.
    He stared at the characters on the blackboard, listening carefully to the teacher's explanation.
  • 注视
    Guān zhòng men dōu zhù shì zhe wǔ tái, qī dài xià yí gè jié mù.
    The audience all watched the stage eagerly, waiting for the next act.
  • 注视
    Tā zhù shì zhe chuāng wài de yǔ, xīn lǐ chōng mǎn le sī niàn.
    She gazed at the rain outside the window, her heart full of longing.

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.

zhùconcentrate

“注” (concentrate) and “视” (look) join to mean gaze closely.

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
shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
zhǔzhù
Same sound today

注 combines 水, meaning water, with 主, which gives the sound.

Open 注 →

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 視; 视 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
jiànsee
Sound part声符shēngfú
shìshì
Same sound today

The story is about the traditional form 視: it combines 見, meaning see, with 示, which gives the sound shì.

Open 视 →

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