noun HSK 2
eye · eyes
Meaning
眼睛 is the everyday word for eye or eyes in Mandarin Chinese. It refers to the organ of sight and is one of the most basic body part vocabulary items. The word consists of two characters that both relate to vision.
Usage
This is the standard, neutral term for eyes used in all contexts from casual conversation to formal writing. Native speakers use it to describe the physical organ, appearance of eyes, or eye-related conditions. It can be singular or plural depending on context. Common in descriptions of people's appearance and medical contexts.
Examples
- 01她有一双漂亮的大眼睛。.She has a pair of beautiful big eyes.
- 02我的眼睛有点儿累，需要休息一下。, .My eyes are a bit tired and need to rest for a while.
Characters
Measure words
- 只一只眼睛
- 双一双眼睛
Common collocations
- 大眼睛big eyes
- 睁眼睛to open one's eyes
- 闭眼睛to close one's eyes
- 眼睛痛eyes hurt
Origin
Both characters contain the radical 目 (eye). 眼 originally depicted an eye, while 睛 specifically refers to the pupil or eyeball. The compound 眼睛 emphasizes the complete eye organ.