闷 (mēn) - stuffy & stifling

闷Tone 1

mēn ｜ 7 strokes ｜ radical: 门

伦妙

闷 · mēn

stuffy;

stifling;

suffocating;

bored;

depressed;

to seal tightly;

to smother.

stuffystiflingsuffocating

Usage highlights

stuffyboreddepressedsultryto sulkstifling

Synonyms

  • 烦— annoyed; vexed
  • 郁— gloomy; melancholy

Antonyms

  • 畅— free-flowing; unimpeded
  • 爽— refreshing; invigorating

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The room is very stuffy (房间很闷).
  • I feel bored and depressed (我感到闷闷不乐).
  • Cover the pot to simmer the food (把锅盖闷上焖食物).
  • He is a quiet and uncommunicative person (他是个闷葫芦).

Collocations

  • stuffy(闷热)
  • bored(烦闷)
  • depressed(郁闷)
  • sultry(闷气)
  • to sulk(生闷气)
  • stifling(沉闷)

Idioms

  • Depressed and unhappy(闷闷不乐)
  • Boring and uninteresting(枯燥沉闷)
  • To break the silence(打破沉闷)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character combines 'door' (门) and 'heart' (心), suggesting a heart shut behind a door, conveying feelings of being closed off, stifled, or depressed.
  • In traditional Chinese medicine, 'men' can refer to internal stagnation of qi or emotions.

FAQ