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March 24, 2026
瞪dèng(deng4)
The verb 瞪 (dèng) means to open one’s eyes wide, often in a context of surprise, anger, or intense focus. It is commonly used to describe the action of staring or glaring at someone or something, often with a strong emotional charge. This term can convey feelings of disbelief or confrontation.
Strokes17Radical目Frequency#8119DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of staring or glaring can often be a sign of strong feelings, such as anger or disapproval, which might lead to social tension. This is particularly evident in situations where maintaining face or harmony is important.
Memory Tip
Imagine a big, round eye opening wide in shock, like a startled owl. The character 瞪 has the eye radical (目) symbolizing vision, paired with the action of glaring, making it easy to remember that this word relates to intense looking.
Meanings of 瞪
dèng(deng4)
1to open (one's eyes) wide
2to stare at
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 瞪
瞪Simplified
17Strokes
目Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#8119Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 瞪
Podcast: 瞪
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AI Study Notes for 瞪
Quick Contrast
瞪 (dèng) vs 盯 (dīng) — use 瞪 when expressing a wide-eyed stare, often due to surprise or anger, while 盯 indicates a fixed stare, usually implying focus or attention.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a big, round eye opening wide in shock, like a startled owl. The character 瞪 has the eye radical (目) symbolizing vision, paired with the action of glaring, making it easy to remember that this word relates to intense looking.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the context when using 瞪, as it can imply aggression or disapproval. It's more informal and typically used in everyday conversation rather than formal writing. Common collocations include 瞪眼 (dèng yǎn - to stare) and 瞪着 (dèng zhe - staring at).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 瞪 connects well with other verbs describing actions related to vision and perception, such as 看 (kàn - to see) and 望 (wàng - to look). Focus on using it in sentences that convey strong emotions or reactions.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of staring or glaring can often be a sign of strong feelings, such as anger or disapproval, which might lead to social tension. This is particularly evident in situations where maintaining face or harmony is important.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 瞪 with 看 (kàn), leading to incorrect phrases like '我瞪书' (Wǒ dèng shū - I stare at the book) instead of using 看. Remember, 瞪 is specifically for intense staring or glaring.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 瞪
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Grammar Patterns of 瞪
瞪 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
她低头____着我，一脸怒气。
She glared down at me with a peevish expression on her face.
Example Sentences for 瞪 (10)
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1
她低头瞪着我，一脸怒气。
tā dī tóu dèng zháo wǒ， ， yī liǎn nù。
She glared down at me with a peevish expression on her face.
2
迈克尔狠狠地瞪了他一眼然后走开了。
mài kè ěr hěn hěn dì dèng le tā yī yǎn rán hòu zǒu kāi le。
Michael gave him a dirty look and walked out.
3
迈克尔狠狠瞪了那只狗一眼。
mài kè ěr hěn hěn dèng le nà zhī gǒu yī yǎn。
Michael gave the dog a stern look.
4
他们几乎目瞪口呆地看着那两个人朝他们走过来。
tā mén jī hū mù dèng kǒu dāi dì kàn zháo nà liǎng gè rén zhāo tā mén zǒu guò lái。
They watched almost open-mouthed as the two men came towards them.
He straight-ened up and looked at me, open-mouthed.
9
她被吓呆了，双眼直瞪着。
tā bèi xià dāi le， ， shuāng yǎn zhí dèng。
Her eyes were transfixed with terror.
10
她在挪过来的椅子坐下, 瞪着眼睛看着显得很尴尬的胖队长, 报了自己名字.
tā zài nuó guò lái de yǐ zǐ zuò xià, , dèng zháo yǎn jīng kàn zháo xiǎn dé hěn gān gà de pàng duì, cháng , bào le zì jǐ.
She sank into the proffered chair, glaring at the discomfited fat captain, and gave her name.
Cultural Notes for 瞪
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the act of staring or glaring can often be a sign of strong feelings, such as anger or disapproval, which might lead to social tension. This is particularly evident in situations where maintaining face or harmony is important.
Word Family of 瞪
Words Containing This Character8
瞪dèngto stare at
目瞪口呆mùdèngkǒudāistunned
瞪眼to stare
干瞪眼to watch helplessly乾瞪眼
吹胡子瞪眼to get angry吹鬍子瞪眼
迷瞪puzzled
直瞪瞪to stare blankly
直眉瞪眼to stare angrily or vacantly
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 瞪 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 瞪
You can say, '他瞪着我' (Tā dèng zhe wǒ - He is glaring at me) to illustrate someone staring intensely.
No, 瞪 is more commonly used in informal contexts, such as in conversations or casual storytelling.
Yes, it can express surprise when someone is taken aback, such as '我瞪大了眼睛' (Wǒ dèng dà le yǎnjīng - I opened my eyes wide in surprise).
