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March 24, 2026
失明()shīmíng(shi1ming2)
失明 (shī míng) refers to the condition of losing one's eyesight or becoming blind. It can be used in both literal and figurative contexts, often discussing medical conditions, disabilities, or metaphorically indicating a lack of insight or awareness.
Frequency#9281DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, discussions about blindness may evoke themes of resilience and adaptation, as seen in stories of famous blind figures like the musician Liu Wenjin, who overcame his disability to achieve greatness.
Memory Tip
Imagine a pair of eyes (目) that are closed (失), representing loss. '失' sounds like 'she,' and you could visualize 'she lost her sight' to remember both the pronunciation and meaning.
Meanings of 失明
shīmíng(shi1ming2)
1to lose one's eyesight
2to become blind
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About 失明
失明Simplified
Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 失明
Podcast: 失明
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AI Study Notes for 失明
Quick Contrast
盲 (máng, blind) - use 失明 when referring specifically to the condition of losing eyesight, while 盲 can refer more generally to being blind or lacking insight.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a pair of eyes (目) that are closed (失), representing loss. '失' sounds like 'she,' and you could visualize 'she lost her sight' to remember both the pronunciation and meaning.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 失明 with other terms for visual impairment, such as 盲 (máng), which specifically means 'blind.' This term is generally used in formal contexts, especially in medical discussions.
HSK Study Tips
While not an HSK vocabulary word, 失明 can be connected to topics around health and disability, which may appear in HSK exams. Focus on understanding related vocabulary like 视觉 (shìjué, vision) and 眼睛 (yǎnjing, eyes).
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, discussions about blindness may evoke themes of resilience and adaptation, as seen in stories of famous blind figures like the musician Liu Wenjin, who overcame his disability to achieve greatness.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 失明 with 失去视力 (shīqù shìlì), which means 'to lose vision.' While both imply loss of sight, 失明 is more definitive and often used to describe permanent blindness.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 失明
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Cultural Notes for 失明
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, discussions about blindness may evoke themes of resilience and adaptation, as seen in stories of famous blind figures like the musician Liu Wenjin, who overcame his disability to achieve greatness.
Frequently Asked Questions about 失明
You can say '他因为事故失明了' (Tā yīnwèi shìgù shīmíngle), which means 'He became blind due to an accident.'
It's not common in casual conversations, as it usually pertains to serious topics, but you may hear it in medical settings.
You might encounter synonyms like 盲 (máng), which also means blind, but with slightly different connotations.
