Definitions

jié eyelashes

Etymology phono-semantic

eye

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "睫", representing the eyelash, is etymologically structured as a phono-semantic compound that combines the semantic radical "目" for eye with the component "疌" serving primarily as a phonetic indicator, a formation that has consistently conveyed its core meaning without significant deviation over time. The semantic element firmly associates the character with ocular anatomy, while the phonetic component, though historically linked to concepts of quickness in other contexts, functions here solely to guide pronunciation without imparting additional meaning. This enduring structural integrity has ensured that the character maintains its specific reference to the hairs lining the eyelid across various periods of written Chinese, illustrating how such compositional logic supports semantic stability within the language's orthographic system.

Example Sentences Hide

她的毛很长。

Tā de jiémáo hěn cháng.

Her eyelashes are very long.

毛能保护眼睛。

Jiémáo néng bǎohù yǎnjīng.

Eyelashes can protect the eyes.

他的毛又黑又密。

Tā de jiémáo yòu hēi yòu mì.

His eyelashes are both dark and thick.

她每天都要涂毛膏。

Tā měitiān dōu yào tú jiémáogāo.

She applies mascara every day.

毛生长在眼睑边缘。

Jiémáo shēngzhǎng zài yǎnjiǎn biānyuán.

Eyelashes grow on the edge of the eyelids.

毛可以让眼睛看起来更大。

Jiǎ jiémáo kěyǐ ràng yǎnjīng kàn qǐlái gèng dà.

False eyelashes can make the eyes look bigger.

她小心翼翼地修剪过长的毛。

Tā xiǎoxīnyìyì de xiūjiǎn guòcháng de jiémáo.

She carefully trims her overlong eyelashes.

毛的生理功能是防止灰尘进入眼睛。

Jiémáo de shēnglǐ gōngnéng shì fángzhǐ huīchén jìnrù yǎnjīng.

The physiological function of eyelashes is to prevent dust from entering the eyes.