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March 24, 2026
眨zhǎ(zha3)
The character 眨 (zhǎ) means 'to blink' or 'to wink.' It describes the quick closing and opening of the eyes, often used in both literal and metaphorical contexts, such as expressing surprise or secrecy. In conversation, it can convey a sense of playfulness or intimacy when winking.
Strokes9Radical目Frequency#8316DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, winking can convey a variety of meanings, from flirtation to a secret shared between friends. It's often seen as a playful gesture, which might not have the same connotation in every Western culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a pair of eyes that are so surprised they can't help but blink rapidly. The character 眨 resembles two eyes closing (the top part) and opening (the bottom part), while the pronunciation 'zhǎ' sounds like a quick gasp of surprise, as if you're saying, 'Oh!' when you blink.
Meanings of 眨
zhǎ(zha3)
1to blink
2to wink
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 眨 means.
About 眨
眨Simplified
9Strokes
目Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#8316Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 眨
Podcast: 眨
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AI Study Notes for 眨
Quick Contrast
眨 (blink) vs 眨眼 (wink) — use 眨 for the action of blinking generally, while 眨眼 specifically refers to the act of winking.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 眨 with other characters related to eyes, like 眼 (yǎn, eye). Use 眨 in informal contexts, especially when describing actions like winking or blinking; it may not be suitable in formal writing. Be careful with tone: a mispronounced tone can lead to misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 眨 connects to other words expressing actions or motions, such as 跑 (pǎo, to run) or 看 (kàn, to see). Students should focus on using it in sentences related to actions and body language to enhance their conversational skills.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 眨 (zhǎ) with 眈 (dān), which means 'to stare.' For instance, saying '他眈了眈眼' is incorrect; the correct form is '他眨了眨眼' (He blinked his eyes).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 眨
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How Well Do You Know 眨?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 眨 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 眨 (zhǎ) means 'to blink' or 'to wink.' It describes the quick closing and opening of the eyes, often used in both literal and metaphorical contexts, such as expressing surprise or secrecy. In conversation, it can convey a sense of playfulness or intimacy when winking.
When to use 眨
Common mistakes include confusing 眨 with other characters related to eyes, like 眼 (yǎn, eye). Use 眨 in informal contexts, especially when describing actions like winking or blinking; it may not be suitable in formal writing. Be careful with tone: a mispronounced tone can lead to misunderstandings.
眨 or something close to it
眨 (blink) vs 眨眼 (wink) — use 眨 for the action of blinking generally, while 眨眼 specifically refers to the act of winking.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 眨 (zhǎ) with 眈 (dān), which means 'to stare.' For instance, saying '他眈了眈眼' is incorrect; the correct form is '他眨了眨眼' (He blinked his eyes).
Write 眨
眨
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Practice writing 眨 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 眨
眨 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他预言我的头发“一____眼”就会长回来。
He predicted that my hair would grow back "in no time"
Example Sentences for 眨 (10)
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1
他预言我的头发“一眨眼”就会长回来。
tā yù yán wǒ de tóu fā“ “ yī zhǎ” yǎn ” jiù huì cháng。
He predicted that my hair would grow back "in no time"
2
他身体出现了神经性抽搐，开始不停地眨眼睛。
tā shēn tǐ chū xiàn le shén jīng xìng chōu chù， ， kāi shǐ bù tíng dì zhǎ yǎn。
He developed a nervous twitch and began to blink constantly.
