Chinese word

茫然

Pronunciation

Pinyinmáng rán

Meaning

  • adjectivedazed

Example

他茫然地站在那里。tā máng rán dì zhàn zài nà lǐ

He stood there, dazed.

Illustration for 茫然 (dazed)

More examples

听到突如其来的消息，他神色茫然，半天没反应。tīng dào tū rú qí lái de xiāo xī tā shén sè máng rán bàn tiān méi fǎn yìng

After hearing the sudden news, he looked dazed and did not react for a long time.

Core concept

A mind goes briefly blank, leaving a person unable to react clearly when something is confusing or startling.

Common phrases

  • 神色茫然shén sè máng rán

    a dazed expression

  • 茫然若失máng rán ruò shī

    dazed and lost

  • 面露茫然miàn lù máng rán

    show a dazed expression

Similar words

呆然dāi rán: Stunned by shock or surprise, with a vacant look and no immediate reaction.
困惑kùn huò: Confused about a situation or response and unsure what to do.
惊愕jīng è: Extremely shocked and briefly speechless, with a frozen expression.

Definition in Chinese

感到迷惘或惊愕，心思短时间空白，无法做出反应。gǎn dào mí wǎng huò jīng è xīn sī duǎn shí jiān kòng bái wú fǎ zuò chū fǎn yìng

Word origin

茫 (máng, "hazy or boundless") + 然 (rán, "in that state") frames a person's thoughts as hazy and unsettled, leading to the sense of a mind that cannot form a clear response.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this adjective can sound somewhat formal or literary, making it especially natural in narration and careful descriptions of a person's reaction.

Other meanings

  • blanklyadverb
  • confusedadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 茫然若失máng rán ruò shīdazed and bewilderedidiom
  • 茫然无措máng rán wú cuòdazed and helplessidiom

Word lists with this word