About
The character "惺" is structured with the heart radical 忄 alongside the phonetic component 星, implying a conceptual link between mental states and the perceived clarity or brightness of stars. Its early usage centered on denoting wisdom, intelligence, and a state of being awake or clear-headed, often in spiritual or intellectual contexts. Over time, the semantic application widened to describe not only full alertness but also the intermediary state of drowsiness, as evidenced in the compound "惺忪", which captures the gradual transition from sleep to wakefulness. While the character's form has persisted without alteration, its functional meaning shifted from purely indicating acute perception to encompassing this liminal aspect of consciousness, and it now survives predominantly in fixed expressions that reflect its historical associations with discernment and mutual appreciation among the astute.
Example Sentences Hide
他睡眼惺忪地看着我。
她的笑容有点假惺惺。
早上起来，他总是睡眼惺忪。
别那么假惺惺地说话。
他揉着惺忪的睡眼去刷牙。
那种假惺惺的关心让人讨厌。
尽管睡眼惺忪，他还是坚持完成了工作。
对于他假惺惺的承诺，我们早已不再相信。