HSK · Level 19
135 words
Chinese word
盯
Pronunciation
Pinyindīng
Meaning
- verbstare at
Example
他一直盯着那只猫，没眨眼。tā yì zhí dīng zhe nà zhǐ māo méi zhá yǎn
He kept staring at that cat without blinking.
More examples
观众都盯着屏幕，等待比分公布。guān zhòng dōu dīng zhe píng mù děng dài bǐ fēn gōng bù
All the spectators stared at the screen, waiting for the score to be announced.
Core concept
A person's eyes hold one target under close attention, whether waiting for movement or making sure nothing is missed.
Common phrases
盯着屏幕dīng zhe píng mù
stare at the screen
盯着手机dīng zhe shǒu jī
stare at the phone
Similar words
注视zhù shì: Look at someone or something steadily and calmly with focused attention.
凝视níng shì: Gaze quietly at one fixed point without moving your eyes away.
瞪dèng: Glare at someone with wide eyes to show anger or annoyance.
Definition in Chinese
用眼睛持续注视某人或事物，常表示留意、监视或等待对方动作。yòng yǎn jīng chí xù zhù shì mǒu rén huò shì wù cháng biǎo shì liú yì jiān shì huò děng dài duì fāng dòng zuò
Word origin
盯 (dīng, "fix one's eyes on") pairs 目 (mù, "eye") for its visual meaning with 丁 (dīng, "nail") for its sound, linking the written form to a steady gaze.
Usage tips
- The English verb "stare" usually highlights the gaze itself, while this everyday Chinese verb often highlights the ongoing task of keeping track of a person or thing.