TongTong
Sign in

盯住 (dīng zhù) — to fix one's eyes on (someone/something); to keep a close watch on

Definition

盯住 means to fix your eyes on something and keep watching it closely — not a quick glance but sustained focus. Stronger than 看 (just 'look') or 观察 (more detached, analytical watching).

verb
to fix one's eyes on (someone/something)to keep a close watch on

Examples

  • 盯住，。
    Mā ma dīng zhù hái zi, pà tā shuāi dǎo.
    Mom keeps a close watch on the child, afraid he'll fall.
  • 盯住。
    Tā zài àn chù dīng zhù duì shǒu de yì jǔ yí dòng.
    From the shadows, he watches the opponent's every move.
  • 盯住，。
    Nǐ yào dīng zhù mù biāo, bié fēn xīn.
    You must keep your eyes on the target; don't get distracted.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

盯dīngstare
住zhùfix

盯住 combines 盯 meaning stare and 住 meaning fix to mean stare without moving.

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
目目mùeye
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng盯dīng
Same sound today

In 盯, the left part 目 is an eye; the right part 丁 gives the sound.

Open 盯 →

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
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
主
主zhǔ住zhù
Same sound today

住 pairs 亻, the person radical (written fully as 人), with 主, which supplies the sound.

Open 住 →
Appears in
Senses

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.