眼睛 (yǎn jing) — eye | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

眼睛 is the common word for 'eye' as a body part (one of two). 眼 is more literary/measure-word use; 眼镜 means 'eyeglasses' (different character: 镜).

noun

eye

Measure word · 只, 双

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

眼 (eye) and 睛 (pupil) are parallel senses denoting the whole eye.

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.

目艮眼

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

艮

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.

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

目青睛

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

青

青qīng睛⁰jīng

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

The left part 目 is an eye, matching the meaning eyeball; the right part 青 gives the sound.

Appears in