Meanings of 睨
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About 睨
Podcast: 睨
Podcast: 睨
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AI Study Notes for 睨
瞥 (piē) - use 睨 when the look conveys suspicion or disdain, while 瞥 implies a casual or fleeting glance.
Learners often confuse 睨 with other characters that convey looking or seeing, such as 看 (kàn) or 见 (jiàn). It is generally more informal, often used in literary contexts. Be cautious with tone; the fourth tone is crucial for correct pronunciation.
Although 睨 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it is useful for learners at HSK 4 and above who are expanding their expressive capabilities. Students should focus on recognizing this character in context, especially in literature or descriptive texts.
Learners often incorrectly use 睨 to mean just 'to look' without the nuance of suspicion or disdain. For example, saying '我睨他' (Wǒ nì tā) to simply mean 'I look at him' is incorrect; it should convey a critical or skeptical attitude.
Pronunciation of 睨
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Etymology of 睨
eye
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 睨
- 1The meaning half目 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half兒 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 睨? 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
What type of character formation is 睨?
Decomposition of 睨
Identify the Components
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How to say to glare at, to look askance, to squint in Chinese
“to glare at, to look askance, to squint” in Chinese is睨
The character 睨 (nì) means to glare at or to look at something with a sidelong glance, often implying suspicion or disdain. It is commonly used to describe a disapproving or critical look directed at someone or something, and can convey a sense of skepticism.
When to use 睨
Learners often confuse 睨 with other characters that convey looking or seeing, such as 看 (kàn) or 见 (jiàn). It is generally more informal, often used in literary contexts. Be cautious with tone; the fourth tone is crucial for correct pronunciation.
睨 or something close to it
瞥 (piē) - use 睨 when the look conveys suspicion or disdain, while 瞥 implies a casual or fleeting glance.
What learners get wrong
Learners often incorrectly use 睨 to mean just 'to look' without the nuance of suspicion or disdain. For example, saying '我睨他' (Wǒ nì tā) to simply mean 'I look at him' is incorrect; it should convey a critical or skeptical attitude.
Write 睨
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Practice writing 睨 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 睨
睨 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
“你会下棋吗？”他斜____着米格尔问道。
"Do you play chess?" he asked, looking askance at Miguel.
Example Sentences for 睨 (1)
Word Family of 睨
Compound Meaning
What does 睨 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 睨
While 看 (kàn) simply means 'to see' or 'to look', 睨 (nì) specifically implies a critical or suspicious glance.
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