Definitions

to look askance at

Etymology phono-semantic

eye

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

睨 is a phono-semantic compound with the semantic radical 目 (eye) on the left, indicating a vision-related action, and the phonetic component 兒 on the right, providing its pronunciation. It specifically means to look sideways or glance askance, often with connotations of disdain or hostility. While 兒 means "child" independently, here it serves only a phonetic function. The character is commonly used in classical literature to describe subtle visual judgments and interpersonal dynamics.

Etymology Hide

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