Meanings of 眈
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About 眈
Podcast: 眈
Podcast: 眈
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AI Study Notes for 眈
Learners often confuse 眈 with 盯 (dīng), which also means to stare but carries a more aggressive connotation. Use 眈 in more neutral or contemplative contexts. Be cautious of the tone; ensure it is pronounced with a high-level tone (dān) to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.
While 眈 is not included in the HSK vocabulary, it connects to characters related to observation and attention, such as 看 (kàn) and 视 (shì). Students should focus on recognizing similar patterns in usage and context to enhance their understanding of visual perception-related vocabulary.
Learners often confuse 眈 with 盯, leading to sentences like '我盯着风景' (I stare at the scenery), which sounds overly aggressive. Instead, use '我眈着风景' for a more appropriate expression of admiration.
Pronunciation of 眈
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Etymology of 眈
Phonosemantic compound. 目 represents the meaning and 冘 represents the sound.
eye
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 眈
Phonosemantic compound. 目 represents the meaning and 冘 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half目 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half冘 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayeye
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 眈? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 眈
Identify the Components
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How to say to stare at, to gaze intently; to delay, to hinder in Chinese
“to stare at, to gaze intently; to delay, to hinder” in Chinese is眈
The character 眈 (dān) primarily means to stare at or gaze intently, often suggesting a focused or fixed attention on something. It can also imply a sense of delay or hindrance, as in being stuck in contemplation or distraction. This word is used in contexts where deep observation or attention is required, often with a hint of intensity or seriousness.
When to use 眈
Learners often confuse 眈 with 盯 (dīng), which also means to stare but carries a more aggressive connotation. Use 眈 in more neutral or contemplative contexts. Be cautious of the tone; ensure it is pronounced with a high-level tone (dān) to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 眈 with 盯, leading to sentences like '我盯着风景' (I stare at the scenery), which sounds overly aggressive. Instead, use '我眈着风景' for a more appropriate expression of admiration.
Write 眈
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Practice writing 眈 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 眈
Compound Meaning
What does 虎视眈眈 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 眈
Yes, it can be used to describe someone gazing intently at something, particularly in more formal or literary contexts.
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