About
瞪 is a classic phono-semantic compound, constructed from two components: the left radical 目 (mù) 'eye,' which firmly ties the character to the domain of eyes, vision, and looking, and the right phonetic component 登 (dēng). Although 登 ordinarily means 'to ascend' or 'climb,' in this character it functions solely to indicate the sound. The meaning is to open the eyes wide and stare fixedly or glare intensely. This expression usually carries an aggressive, angry, or confrontational undertone, signaling strong disapproval, shock, or outright hostility. It describes a deliberate, prolonged, and unblinking intense gaze, far more confrontational than a casual look. Thus, 瞪 vividly depicts a fierce, unwavering glare. This structure, a semantic radical paired with a phonetic marker, is a fundamental principle of Chinese character formation.
Example Sentences Hide
他瞪着我看。
妈妈瞪了我一眼。
不要瞪着眼睛说话。
他生气地瞪着他的弟弟。
我被他的瞪视吓到了。
尽管他瞪着我，我还是继续说。
那个陌生人一直瞪着我们，让我们感到不安。
当他发现秘密被泄露时，他瞪大了眼睛，满脸难以置信的表情。
Report an issue
Flag incorrect definitions, examples, etymology, etc.