About
The character 睨 is a phono-semantic compound: the semantic radical 目 (eye) on the left marks it as an action of vision, while the phonetic component 兒 on the right indicates the pronunciation. Its meaning is to look askance, glance sideways, or glare, and it frequently implies disdain, arrogance, or hostility, though the exact nuance depends on context. The component 兒 typically means "child" when used alone, but here it contributes only its sound. 睨 is a staple of classical literature and formal writing, where it captures the subtle facial expressions and interpersonal tensions of visual judgment.
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