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The character 瞑 (míng) functions as a verb meaning to close the eyes, often in contexts of sleep, death, or deep thought. It is a phono-semantic compound: the left semantic radical 目 (mù, "eye") grounds it in the physical action of the eyelids, while the right phonetic component 冥 (míng), which independently means darkness or the underworld, provides the pronunciation and reinforces a sense of dimness or obscured light. This character is notably used in the idiom 死不瞑目 (sǐ bù míng mù), which describes someone dying with unresolved grievances, unable to close their eyes in peace, thus emphasizing its association with finality.
Etymology Hide
