What is the main usage of 眄?

眄 primarily means to look sideways or askance, often implying a subtle, indirect, or disdainful gaze, and is mostly used in literary or classical contexts.

Is 眄 commonly used in modern Chinese?

No, 眄 is rare in modern spoken Chinese and is mostly found in classical literature, poetry, or fixed expressions.

How is 眄 different from 看?

看 means 'to look' generally, while 眄 specifies a sidelong, often nuanced glance, sometimes with emotional undertones like disdain or coquetry.

眄Tone 3

miǎn ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

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眄 · miǎn

To look askance;

to glance sideways;

to look at with disdain or contempt.

To look askanceto glance sidewaysto look at with disdain or contempt.

Usage highlights

To glance sidewaysTo look askanceTo look at disdainfullyTo cast a sidelong glanceTo look aroundTo look obliquely

Synonyms

睨— To look askance; to squint
瞥— To glance; to glimpse
顾— To look back; to care for

Antonyms

直视— To look directly
正视— To face squarely; to look straight at

Usage & contexts

Examples

He glanced sideways at the painting (眄视).
She cast a disdainful look at the proposal (眄睨).
The servant dared not look directly but stole a glance (流眄).

Collocations

To glance sideways(眄视)
To look askance(流眄)
To look at disdainfully(眄睨)
To cast a sidelong glance(顾眄)
To look around(眄眄)
To look obliquely(斜眄)

Idioms

To look around left and right(左顾右眄)
To cast sidelong glances(流眄含情)

Cultural background

FAQ

In classical literature, 眄 often describes a subtle, indirect way of looking, sometimes carrying connotations of disdain, coquettishness, or careful observation.
The character appears in ancient texts like 'Zhuangzi' and poetry, depicting nuanced expressions and social hierarchies through gaze.

眄 (miǎn) - To look askance & to glance sideways