Definitions
to long for; to gaze at
Etymology
About
睎 is a phono-semantic compound expressing the act of gazing thoughtfully and longingly into the distance. The semantic component 目 (mù, 'eye') indicates looking, while the phonetic 希 (xī) also contributes a hint of hope or aspiration, shaping the combined sense of looking forward with desire. This character was favored in classical poetry and elevated prose to convey yearning or wistful observation, distinguishing it from ordinary verbs of seeing by emphasizing the emotional intent behind a prolonged visual focus.
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