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眍 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
眍kōusunken eyesv, 9 strokes, radical 目
眍kōuto sink in (of eyes)unknown, 9 strokes, radical 目
kōu(kou1) T1
  1. 1sunken eyes
  2. 2to sink in (of eyes)
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March 24, 2026

眍(瞘)kōu(kou1)

The character 眍 (kōu) refers to the appearance of sunken eyes, typically associated with fatigue, illness, or malnutrition. It can also be used metaphorically to describe a deep emotional state or a look of sorrow. This term is often encountered in literary contexts or medical descriptions.

Strokes9Radical目
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the appearance of one's eyes can be closely linked to health and emotional well-being. Sunken eyes may be seen as a warning sign of poor health, often referenced in traditional medicine and literature, where physical appearance reflects one's inner state.

Memory Tip

Imagine a pair of eyes that are so tired and sunken in that they resemble a deep well (the radical '目' for eyes looks like a pair of eyes, while '口' can represent a mouth opening wide). Picture someone peering into this well, representing the depth of their exhaustion and sorrow.

Meanings of 眍

kōu(kou1)
1sunken eyes
2to sink in (of eyes)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 眍

眍Simplified
瞘Traditional
9Strokes
目Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 眍

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Podcast: 眍

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AI Study Notes for 眍

Usage Notes

When using 眍 (kōu), it's important to note that it has a somewhat formal or literary tone. Avoid using it in casual conversation; instead, opt for simpler expressions of tiredness. Be mindful of the tone; some learners might confuse it with other similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Since 眍 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, learners at all levels should focus on understanding its meaning in context. It can be connected to other words related to health and emotions, helping students expand their vocabulary in those areas.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 眍 (kōu) with 口 (kǒu), which means 'mouth.' For example, saying '我有眍口' (Wǒ yǒu kōu kǒu) is incorrect; the correct phrase should focus on the state of the eyes, like '我眼睛很眍' (Wǒ yǎnjīng hěn kōu).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 眍

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Etymology of 眍

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

eye

Semantic (meaning)目
+
Phonetic (sound)区
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 眍

  1. 1The meaning half目 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half区 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayeye
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 眍? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 眍?

Decomposition of 眍

IDS Structure⿰目区
眍Full Character
=
目mu4
left
区Ou1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 眍?

How to say sunken eyes in Chinese

“sunken eyes” in Chinese is眍kōu

The character 眍 (kōu) refers to the appearance of sunken eyes, typically associated with fatigue, illness, or malnutrition. It can also be used metaphorically to describe a deep emotional state or a look of sorrow. This term is often encountered in literary contexts or medical descriptions.

When to use 眍

When using 眍 (kōu), it's important to note that it has a somewhat formal or literary tone. Avoid using it in casual conversation; instead, opt for simpler expressions of tiredness. Be mindful of the tone; some learners might confuse it with other similar-sounding words.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 眍 (kōu) with 口 (kǒu), which means 'mouth.' For example, saying '我有眍口' (Wǒ yǒu kōu kǒu) is incorrect; the correct phrase should focus on the state of the eyes, like '我眼睛很眍' (Wǒ yǎnjīng hěn kōu).

Write 眍

眍

Practice writing 眍 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 眍

Words Containing This Character1
眍kōuto sink in (of eyes)瞘
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 眍 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 眍

It typically describes someone who looks very tired or unwell, often due to lack of sleep or stress.

Jason Recommends

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