Definition
闷 (mèn) describes a stuffy, airless environment or a feeling of being bored/depressed from being cooped up. Unlike 无聊 (wú liáo), which means bored from lack of stimulation, 闷 emphasizes a shut-in, suffocating quality. 沉闷 (chén mèn) is a stronger, gloomier version, while 烦闷 (fán mèn) focuses on irritable depression.
adjective
stuffy (airless)boreddepressed (feeling shut-in)
Easily confused
- 问wènlook-aliketo ask
- 门ménsound-alikedoor; gate
- 间jiānlook-alike(classifier) for rooms, offices, and other enclosed spaces
- 闲xiánlook-alikefree (not busy), idle, unoccupied
- 闪shǎnlook-aliketo dodge, to duck out of the way
- 们menlook-alike(suffix) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to people
Examples
- ，闷。Chuānghu guān zhe, wū lǐ hěn mèn.The windows are closed; it's very stuffy inside.
- 闷，。Tā zuìjìn xīnqíng hěn mèn, bù xiǎng chūmén.He's been feeling very depressed lately and doesn't want to go out.
- 闷。Yí ge rén zài jiā dāi zhe tài mèn le.Staying at home alone is too boring.
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