闭目 (bì mù) — (v.o.) to close one's eyes; (euphemism) to pass away, to die

Definition

A literary verb meaning 'to close one's eyes', used in set phrases like 闭目养神 (rest with eyes shut). As a euphemism for 'to pass away', it sounds formal and gentle, usually in writing or obituaries.

verb
(v.o.) to close one's eyes(euphemism) to pass awayto die
Easily confused

Examples

  • 闭目。
    Tā zhèng zài bì mù yǎng shén.
    He is resting with his eyes closed.
  • ，。
    Tā bì le mù, jìng jìng de sī kǎo.
    He closed his eyes and thought quietly.
  • 闭目。
    Nà wèi lǎo rén ān xiáng dì bì mù le.
    That elderly man passed away peacefully.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

闭bìclose
目mùeyes

闭 means close and 目 means eyes, so the action is closing the eyes.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 閉; 闭 is its simplified writing.

  • 門門méndoor
  • 材材cáimaterial; timber

The traditional form 閉 pairs 門 (door) with 材 (material; timber); the simplified 闭 is a later shorthand, so its right side is not the historical component.

Open 闭 →

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

目 began as a drawing of a human eye, turned sideways.

Open 目 →

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