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.
Imagine a cat (which has the character '目' for eye) looking sideways at a mouse with disdain. The shape of the character 睨 resembles a pair of eyes squinting, and you can associate the pronunciation 'nì' with the sound a cat makes when it disapproves of something.
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.
In Chinese culture, the act of looking askance or giving a disapproving glare can often convey strong social commentary, reflecting the value placed on group harmony and the impact of non-verbal communication in interpersonal relations.
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
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 睨?
Decomposition of 睨
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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)
Cultural Notes for 睨
In Chinese culture, the act of looking askance or giving a disapproving glare can often convey strong social commentary, reflecting the value placed on group harmony and the impact of non-verbal communication in interpersonal relations.
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.