Definitions

è (adjective) terrible; frightening

Etymology

A jade statue  with four holes made in it 

About

The character "噩" is structurally composed of four "口" elements surrounding a central "王" component, with the aggregation of mouths historically suggesting a collective outcry or alarm. Etymologically, this configuration aligns with an original sense of shock or fright, from which the meaning gradually specialized to convey notions of omens or misfortune, now primarily encountered in compounds like "噩梦" for nightmare.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我经常做梦。

Wǒ jīngcháng zuò èmèng.

I often have nightmares.

他昨晚被梦惊醒了。

Tā zuó wǎn bèi èmèng jīngxǐng le.

He was awakened by a nightmare last night.

这个消息简直是耗。

Zhège xiāoxī jiǎnzhí shì èhào.

This news is simply bad news.

耗传来,大家都很悲伤。

Èhào chuán lái, dàjiā dōu hěn bēishāng.

Bad news came, and everyone was very sad.

运似乎一直伴随着他。

Èyùn sìhū yīzhí bànsuízhe tā.

Bad luck seems to have been with him all along.

听到耗时,她忍不住哭了。

Tīng dào èhào shí, tā rěnbùzhù kū le.

When she heard the bad news, she couldn't help but cry.

连续几天的梦让他精神不振。

Liánxù jǐ tiān de èmèng ràng tā jīngshén bù zhèn.

Several consecutive days of nightmares have left him in low spirits.

尽管兆不断,他们仍决定继续前进。

Jǐnguǎn èzhào bùduàn, tāmen réng juédìng jìxù qiánjìn.

Despite constant ill omens, they still decided to press on.