About
The character 噩 (è) originally represented a jade statue (王) with four holes (口) carved into it. Such perforated jade objects may have produced an eerie, startling sound when wind passed through, which became the character's primary meaning of a frightful noise. From this concrete auditory image, the sense gradually broadened to describe any unlucky, nightmarish, or disastrous event, and it is now common in words like 噩梦 (nightmare). Visually, 噩 retains its original symmetry: four 口 surround a central 王, directly matching the ancient depiction of a hole-pierced jade. The unchanged structure underscores the enduring link between the physical artifact and its ominous connotations.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我经常做噩梦。
他昨晚被噩梦惊醒了。
这个消息简直是噩耗。
噩耗传来，大家都很悲伤。
噩运似乎一直伴随着他。
听到噩耗时，她忍不住哭了。
连续几天的噩梦让他精神不振。
尽管噩兆不断，他们仍决定继续前进。
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