Definitions

móu pupil (of the eye); eye

Etymology phono-semantic

eye

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "眸" is structurally composed of the semantic element "目" denoting the eye and the phonetic component "牟" which provides its sound, together forming a meaning historically centered on the pupil of the eye. Etymologically, this combination reflects a linguistic pattern where the phonetic element "牟" was adopted for its auditory value while the radical "目" anchored the character firmly within the semantic field of vision. Over centuries, the term's application shifted from strictly indicating the pupil to encompassing the eye in a more general sense, particularly within literary and poetic contexts where it often conveys expressive qualities. This semantic broadening occurred without alteration to the character's form, which has consistently retained its original components, demonstrating how meaning can evolve while graphical structure remains intact.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

她的眼很漂亮。

Tā de yǎnmóu hěn piàoliang.

Her eyes are very beautiful.

他明亮的子闪着光。

Tā míngliàng de móuzi shǎn zhe guāng.

His bright eyes are shining.

小女孩的子里充满好奇。

Xiǎo nǚhái de móuzi lǐ chōngmǎn hàoqí.

The little girl's eyes are full of curiosity.

在灯光下,她的眼像星星一样亮。

Zài dēngguāng xià, tā de yǎnmóu xiàng xīngxing yīyàng liàng.

Under the light, her eyes are as bright as stars.

他深邃的子似乎能看透人心。

Tā shēnsuì de móuzi sìhū néng kàntòu rénxīn.

His deep eyes seem to be able to see through people's hearts.

每当她微笑时,眼中总带着温柔的神色。

Měi dāng tā wēixiào shí, yǎnmóu zhōng zǒng dài zhe wēnróu de shénsè.

Whenever she smiles, there is always a gentle expression in her eyes.

透过他坚定的子,我看到了他对梦想的执着。

Tòuguò tā jiāndìng de móuzi, wǒ kàndào le tā duì mèngxiǎng de zhízhuó.

Through his determined eyes, I saw his dedication to his dreams.

在他忧郁的子里,隐藏着一段不为人知的故事。

Zài tā yōuyù de móuzi lǐ, yǐncáng zhe yī duàn bù wéi rén zhī de gùshì.

In his melancholy eyes, a story unknown to others is hidden.