Chinese word

眨眼

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhǎ yǎn

Meaning

  • verbblink

Example

他对我眨眼一下。tā duì wǒ zhá yǎn yí xià

He blinks at me once.

Illustration for 眨眼 (blink)

More examples

他向我眨眼示意。tā xiàng wǒ zhá yǎn shì yì

He winked at me as a signal.

Core concept

A momentary eyelid movement that either keeps the eye comfortable or communicates silently.

Common phrases

  • 眨眼了一下zhá yǎn le yí xià

    blink once

  • 眨眼示意zhá yǎn shì yì

    wink to signal

Similar words

挤眼jí yǎn: Close one eye on purpose as a silent signal or playful joke.
眯眼mī yǎn: Partly close the eyes when light is strong or something is hard to see.

Definition in Chinese

眼睛通过上下眼睑快速闭合再张开，以保护或润滑眼球的短暂动作。yǎn jīng tōng guò shàng xià yán jiǎn kuài sù bì hé zài zhāng kāi yǐ bǎo hù huò rùn huá yǎn qiú de duǎn zàn dòng zuò

Word origin

眨眼 (zhǎyǎn, "blink") literally joins 眨 (zhǎ, "blink") and 眼 (yǎn, "eye"), linking the action to the eye itself rather than to a spoken message.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often reserve wink for a deliberate signal, but Chinese can use 眨眼 (zhǎyǎn, "blink") for both the natural action and an intentional signal, depending on context.

Other meanings

  • winkverb

Opposites

  • 睁眼zhēng yǎnopen one's eyesverb

Related words

  • 眨眼儿zhá yǎnrblinknoun
  • 眨眼间zhá yǎn jiānin the blink of an eyeadverb

Word lists with this word