瞥 (piē) — to glance at, to take a quick look

Definition

瞥 (piē) means a very quick, brief glance — shorter and more fleeting than 看 or 瞧, focused on one quick look (often paired with 一眼).

verb
to glance atto take a quick look
Easily confused

Examples

  • 瞥，。
    Tā piē le yì yǎn chuāng wài, jì xù kàn shū.
    He glanced out the window and continued reading.
  • 。
    Wǒ wú yì zhōng piē jiàn tā zài rén qún zhōng.
    I happened to catch a glimpse of him in the crowd.
  • 瞥，。
    Tā zhī piē le yí xià, jiù rèn chū le nà fú huà.
    She recognized the painting with just a quick glance.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
敝
敝bì瞥piē
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

瞥 pairs 目, meaning eye, with 敝, which gives the sound.

Appears in
Senses

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