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March 24, 2026
眨zhǎ(zha3)
The character 眨 (zhǎ) means 'to blink' or 'to wink.' It describes the quick closing and opening of the eyes, often used in both literal and metaphorical contexts, such as expressing surprise or secrecy. In conversation, it can convey a sense of playfulness or intimacy when winking.
Strokes9Radical目Frequency#8316DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, winking can convey a variety of meanings, from flirtation to a secret shared between friends. It's often seen as a playful gesture, which might not have the same connotation in every Western culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a pair of eyes that are so surprised they can't help but blink rapidly. The character 眨 resembles two eyes closing (the top part) and opening (the bottom part), while the pronunciation 'zhǎ' sounds like a quick gasp of surprise, as if you're saying, 'Oh!' when you blink.
Meanings of 眨
zhǎ(zha3)
1to blink
2to wink
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 眨
眨Simplified
9Strokes
目Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#8316Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 眨
Podcast: 眨
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AI Study Notes for 眨
Quick Contrast
眨 (blink) vs 眨眼 (wink) — use 眨 for the action of blinking generally, while 眨眼 specifically refers to the act of winking.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a pair of eyes that are so surprised they can't help but blink rapidly. The character 眨 resembles two eyes closing (the top part) and opening (the bottom part), while the pronunciation 'zhǎ' sounds like a quick gasp of surprise, as if you're saying, 'Oh!' when you blink.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 眨 with other characters related to eyes, like 眼 (yǎn, eye). Use 眨 in informal contexts, especially when describing actions like winking or blinking; it may not be suitable in formal writing. Be careful with tone: a mispronounced tone can lead to misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 眨 connects to other words expressing actions or motions, such as 跑 (pǎo, to run) or 看 (kàn, to see). Students should focus on using it in sentences related to actions and body language to enhance their conversational skills.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, winking can convey a variety of meanings, from flirtation to a secret shared between friends. It's often seen as a playful gesture, which might not have the same connotation in every Western culture.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 眨 (zhǎ) with 眈 (dān), which means 'to stare.' For instance, saying '他眈了眈眼' is incorrect; the correct form is '他眨了眨眼' (He blinked his eyes).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 眨
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Grammar Patterns of 眨
眨 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
他预言我的头发“一____眼”就会长回来。
He predicted that my hair would grow back "in no time"
Example Sentences for 眨 (10)
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1
他预言我的头发“一眨眼”就会长回来。
tā yù yán wǒ de tóu fā“ “ yī zhǎ” yǎn ” jiù huì cháng。
He predicted that my hair would grow back "in no time"
2
他身体出现了神经性抽搐，开始不停地眨眼睛。
tā shēn tǐ chū xiàn le shén jīng xìng chōu chù， ， kāi shǐ bù tíng dì zhǎ yǎn。
He developed a nervous twitch and began to blink constantly.
I bet you could fly this thing with your eyes closed.
5
她只要眨一下眼睫毛，男人们便忙不迭地跑过来！
tā zhī yào zhǎ yī xià yǎn jié máo， ， nán rén mén biàn máng bù dié dì pǎo guò！
She just flutters her eyelashes and the men come running!
6
他冲她眨了眨眼，她便知道他的想法和她一样。
tā chōng tā zhǎ le zhǎ yǎn， ， tā biàn zhī dào tā de xiǎng fǎ hé tā yī。
He winked at her and she knew he was thinking the same thing that she was.
7
“啊！”肯尼眨了眨眼睛，“人都走了吗？”
“ “！” ā ！” kěn ní zhǎ le zhǎ，“ yǎn jīng ，“ rén dū？”
"Oh!" Kenny blinked. "Has everyone gone?"
8
他在强烈的阳光下直眨眼睛。
tā zài qiáng liè de yáng guāng xià zhí zhǎ yǎn jīng。
He blinked in the bright sunlight.
9
他会不动声色地把她骗了,连眼皮也不眨一下.
tā huì bù dòng shēng sè dì bǎ tā piàn le, , lián yǎn pí yě bù zhǎ yī.
He would have tricked her without turning an eyelash.
10
对瞎马点头眨眼都是一样.
duì xiā mǎ diǎn tóu zhǎ yǎn dū shì yī yàng.
A wink is as good as a nod to a blind horse.
Cultural Notes for 眨
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, winking can convey a variety of meanings, from flirtation to a secret shared between friends. It's often seen as a playful gesture, which might not have the same connotation in every Western culture.
Word Family of 眨
Words Containing This Character6
眨眼zhǎyǎnto blink
眨zhǎto blink
一眨眼in a wink
杀人不眨眼ruthless殺人不眨眼
眨眼睛wink
眨巴to blink
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 眨眼 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 眨
You can say, '他眨了眨眼' (Tā zhǎle zhǎ yǎn), meaning 'He blinked his eyes.'
Generally, 眨 is more common in informal contexts and conversations rather than in formal writing.
眨 refers to the action of blinking, while 眼 means 'eye.' They focus on different aspects related to vision.
