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March 24, 2026
眼神yǎnshén(yan3shen2)
眼神 (yǎnshén) refers to the expression or emotion conveyed through the eyes, often revealing a person's feelings or intentions without words. This term is commonly used in contexts like literature, film, or everyday conversation to describe how someone's eyes can communicate more than their words.
Strokes20Frequency#2555DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, subtle expressions conveyed through the eyes can be significant, often reflecting deeper emotions or unspoken thoughts. This is especially prevalent in contexts like traditional Chinese opera, where performers use their eye expressions to convey complex emotions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a pair of eyes (眼) that are full of emotions (神) – they sparkle with meaning when someone looks at you. Think of the phrase 'eyes are the windows to the soul' to remember that 眼神 captures that essence.
Meanings of 眼神
yǎnshén(yan3shen2)
1expression or emotion showing in one's eyes
2meaningful glance
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About 眼神
眼神Simplified
20Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2555Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 眼神
Podcast: 眼神
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AI Study Notes for 眼神
Quick Contrast
神情 (shénqíng) - use 眼神 (yǎnshén) when focusing specifically on the expression in the eyes, while 神情 (shénqíng) encompasses overall facial expression.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of using 眼神 in appropriate contexts, as it is more descriptive and somewhat poetic. Common collocations include '眼神交流' (eye contact) and '眼神闪烁' (eyes flickering), which enhance the emotional depth of the expression. Avoid mixing it up with the more straightforward term for 'eyes' (眼睛) when discussing physical attributes.
HSK Study Tips
As a level 6 word, 眼神 connects to other vocabulary related to emotions and expressions (e.g., 感情, 表达). Focus on understanding its use in emotional contexts and how it complements other descriptive words.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 眼神 with 眼睛 when they want to discuss emotions, leading to sentences like '我喜欢她的眼睛' (I like her eyes) instead of '我喜欢她的眼神' (I like her expression in her eyes). Remember, 眼神 emphasizes the emotional aspect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 眼神
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How to say expression or emotion showing in one's eyes in Chinese
“expression or emotion showing in one's eyes” in Chinese is眼神yǎnshén
眼神 (yǎnshén) refers to the expression or emotion conveyed through the eyes, often revealing a person's feelings or intentions without words. This term is commonly used in contexts like literature, film, or everyday conversation to describe how someone's eyes can communicate more than their words.
When to use 眼神
Be mindful of using 眼神 in appropriate contexts, as it is more descriptive and somewhat poetic. Common collocations include '眼神交流' (eye contact) and '眼神闪烁' (eyes flickering), which enhance the emotional depth of the expression. Avoid mixing it up with the more straightforward term for 'eyes' (眼睛) when discussing physical attributes.
眼神 or something close to it
神情 (shénqíng) - use 眼神 (yǎnshén) when focusing specifically on the expression in the eyes, while 神情 (shénqíng) encompasses overall facial expression.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 眼神 with 眼睛 when they want to discuss emotions, leading to sentences like '我喜欢她的眼睛' (I like her eyes) instead of '我喜欢她的眼神' (I like her expression in her eyes). Remember, 眼神 emphasizes the emotional aspect.
Write 眼神
眼
神
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Grammar Patterns of 眼神
眼神 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
我们出去时，女孩子们总是用忌妒的____看着我。
When we go out, girls are always giving me the evil eye.
