电眼 (diàn yǎn) — (figurative) captivating or expressive eyes (often used of celebrities); (technical) photoelectric sensor, electric eye

Definition

电眼 has two distinct senses: colloquially, "mesmerizing eyes" (of celebrities or attractive people); technically, an electric eye / photoelectric sensor that detects motion.

noun
(figurative) captivating or expressive eyes (often used of celebrities)(technical) photoelectric sensorelectric eye
Measure word · 双

Examples

  • 电眼。
    Hěn duō nǚ yǎn yuán dōu yǒu yì shuāng diàn yǎn.
    Many actresses have a pair of captivating eyes.
  • 电眼，。
    Zhè ge zì dòng mén zhuāng yǒu diàn yǎn, yǒu rén zǒu jìn jiù huì dǎ kāi.
    This automatic door is equipped with an electric eye; it opens when someone approaches.
  • 电眼。
    Tā de diàn yǎn ràng hěn duō rén zháo mí.
    His mesmerizing eyes captivate many people.

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.

电diànelectric
眼yǎneye

电 means electric and 眼 means eye; together they name an electric eye or expressive 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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 電; 电 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
雨雨yǔrain
Sound part声符shēngfú
申
申shēn電diàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For the traditional form 電, 雨 (rain) sits with 申, read shēn and meaning lightning.

Open 电 →

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 →

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