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皱眉 (zhòu méi) — to frown, to knit one's brows

Definition

A verb-object phrase meaning to frown — physically knit the brows together to show displeasure, worry, or concentration. Common in both literal description and figurative writing.

verb
to frownto knit one's brows

Examples

  • 。
    Tā zhòu zhe méi kàn wán le nà fēng xìn.
    He finished reading that letter with a frown.
  • 皱眉，。
    Tā bù xǐ huan zhòu méi, pà cháng zhòu wén.
    She doesn't like to frown, afraid of getting wrinkles.
  • 皱眉。
    Tā zhòu méi de yàng zi kàn qǐ lái hěn yán sù.
    His frowning expression looks very serious.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

皱zhòuto knit
眉méibrow

皱眉 pairs 皱, to knit, with 眉, brow, to mean knit the brows.

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 皺; 皱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
皮皮pí
Sound part声符shēngfú
芻
芻chú皺zhòu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 皺 pairs 皮 (skin) with 芻 as a sound part; the simplified 皱 is a shorthand and its visible parts are not the historical ones.

Open 皱 →

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

眉 originally showed 𠃜, hair, above 目, an eye.

Open 眉 →
Appears in
Body Parts

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