闷

悶

mēn, mèn

心 + 门

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

mēn (adjective,verb) stuffy; to smother

mèn (adjective) depressed; melancholy

mèn (adjective) sealed; airtight

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 心 represents the meaning and 门 represents the sound. Simplified form of 悶.

Semantic: 心 Phonetic: 门

About

闷 (simplified; traditional 悶) is a phono-semantic compound. The outer component 门 (mén, door) gives the sound and suggests an enclosed space, while the inner 心 (xīn, heart/mind) supplies the meaning. The heart shut behind a door conveys the feeling of being trapped, giving rise to the primary concrete senses of stuffiness, suffocation, and lack of fresh air. From this physical stifling, the meaning extends to psychological states, depression, boredom, low spirits, and the smothered sense of being unable to express one's feelings.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

今天天气很闷。

Jīntiān tiānqì hěn mēn.

The weather is very muggy today.

我在屋里觉得闷。

Wǒ zài wū lǐ juéde mēn.

I feel stuffy inside the room.

这间教室很沉闷。

Zhè jiān jiàoshì hěn chénmèn.

This classroom is very dreary.

这个新闻让我很闷。

Zhège xīnwén ràng wǒ hěn mèn.

This piece of news made me feel depressed.

他总闷着头干活。

Tā zǒng mēn zhe tóu gànhuó.

He always keeps his head down and works.

闷热的夏天很难受。

Mēnrè de xiàtiān hěn nánshòu.

The sweltering summer is very uncomfortable.

我闷在家里好几天了。

Wǒ mēn zài jiā lǐ hǎo jǐ tiān le.

I've been cooped up at home for several days.

他心里闷着好多话没说。

Tā xīnli mèn zhe hǎo duō huà méi shuō.

He's bottling up a lot of words he hasn't said.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 心

Component: 门

闷