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March 24, 2026
睜zhēng(zheng1)
The character 睜 (zhēng) means 'to open one's eyes' or 'to stare.' It is commonly used to describe the action of opening the eyes wide, often in surprise or focus. This character conveys a sense of alertness or attentiveness, making it applicable in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
Strokes13Radical目Frequency#91364DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of opening one's eyes can symbolize awareness and enlightenment, often associated with gaining knowledge or insight. It's common in phrases related to awakening or realization.
Memory Tip
Imagine a pair of large eyes that are 'staring' at something intently. The radical 睁 resembles an eye being opened wide, and the pronunciation 'zhēng' can be remembered as 'zing'—the sound you make when something catches your eye.
Meanings of 睜
zhēng(zheng1)
1to open one's eyes; to stare
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 睜
睜Simplified
13Strokes
目Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 睜
Podcast: 睜
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AI Study Notes for 睜
Quick Contrast
睁 (zhēng) vs 眨 (zhǎ) — use 睁 when referring to opening the eyes wide, while 眨 refers specifically to the action of blinking.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a pair of large eyes that are 'staring' at something intently. The radical 睁 resembles an eye being opened wide, and the pronunciation 'zhēng' can be remembered as 'zing'—the sound you make when something catches your eye.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 睜 (zhēng), as mispronunciation can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words. It is typically used in more informal contexts, and common collocations include 睜大眼睛 (zhēng dà yǎnjīng) meaning 'to open one's eyes wide.'
HSK Study Tips
Although 睜 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other characters that involve vision or perception, such as 看 (kàn) meaning 'to see.' Students at this level should focus on recognizing the radicals and understanding the context in which this character is used.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of opening one's eyes can symbolize awareness and enlightenment, often associated with gaining knowledge or insight. It's common in phrases related to awakening or realization.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 睜 with 眨 (zhǎ) which means 'to blink.' For example, saying '我睜我的眼睛' (Wǒ zhēng wǒ de yǎnjīng) is incorrect; instead, use '我睜开我的眼睛' (Wǒ zhēngkāi wǒ de yǎnjīng).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 睜
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Cultural Notes for 睜
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the act of opening one's eyes can symbolize awareness and enlightenment, often associated with gaining knowledge or insight. It's common in phrases related to awakening or realization.
Word Family of 睜
Words Containing This Character7
睁zhēngto open (one's eyes)睜
眼睁睁to stare blankly眼睜睜
睁开to open (one's eyes)睜開
睁眼to open one's eyes睜眼
睁眼说瞎话to talk drivel睜眼說瞎話
睁着眼睛说瞎话to talk drivel睜著眼睛說瞎話
睁一眼闭一眼to turn a blind eye睜一眼閉一眼
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 睁 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 睜
You can say '他睜大眼睛看着我' (Tā zhēng dà yǎnjīng kànzhe wǒ), meaning 'He stared at me with wide-open eyes.'
Yes, 睜 refers specifically to the action of opening the eyes, while 眼睛 (yǎnjīng) means 'eyes' themselves.
Yes, it can be used metaphorically to indicate becoming aware of something or paying attention.
