睜 (zhēng) - To open (eyes) & to stare

睜Tone 1

zhēng ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

丈志

睜 · zhēng

To open (eyes);

to stare;

to gaze with wide-open eyes.

To open (eyes)to stareto gaze with wide-open eyes.

Usage highlights

Open eyesOpen eyes wideStare angrilyWideOpen eyes and stareCannot keep eyes open

Synonyms

  • 张— to open (more general, can apply to mouth, eyes, etc.)
  • 开— to open (general term)

Antonyms

  • 闭— to close (eyes)
  • 合— to close, shut

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He opened his eyes wide (睁大眼睛).
  • She stared at the painting in amazement (睁眼凝视).
  • The child opened his eyes after waking up (睁开眼睛).
  • He was so angry his eyes were wide open (气得睁圆了眼睛).

Collocations

  • Open eyes(睁眼)
  • Open eyes wide(睁大眼睛)
  • Stare angrily(怒睁)
  • Wide-eyed(眼睁得大大的)
  • Open eyes and stare(睁眼凝视)
  • Cannot keep eyes open(睁不开眼)

Idioms

  • Eyes wide open with anger(怒目圆睁)
  • Open eyes and see(睁眼看见)
  • Cannot keep eyes open(睁一只眼闭一只眼 - turn a blind eye)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 睁 specifically refers to the action of opening one's eyes, often with emphasis or effort.
  • In Chinese martial arts and opera, '怒目圆睁' (eyes wide open with anger) is a common expression to show intensity and power.
  • The character is composed of 目 (eye) radical and 争 (struggle), suggesting the effort involved in opening eyes wide.

FAQ