Chinese edit

black eye
trad. (青眼)
simp. #(青眼)

Etymology edit

From Book of Jin's account of Ruan Ji, a poet and musician famed his eccentricity:

禮俗白眼退 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
礼俗白眼退 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Jí yòu néng wèi qīng bái yǎn, jiàn lǐsú zhī shì, yǐ báiyǎn duì zhī. Jí Jī Xǐ lái diào, jí zuò báiyǎn, xǐ bùyì ér tuì. Xǐ dì kāng wén zhī, nǎi jī jiǔ xié qín zào yān, jí dàyuè, nǎi xiàn qīngyǎn. [Pinyin]
(Ruan) Ji could either show others his eyes' dark pupils or his eyes' whites; when meeting literati of etiquettes and customs (i.e. conventionalists), he only showed them his eyes' whites. Once Ji Xi came to offer condolences, (Ruan) Ji showed his eyes' whites (to Ji Xi), (Ji) Xi was displeased and left. (Ji) Xi's younger brother Kang heard that, so (Ji Kang) visited (Ruan Ji) bringing liquors and carrying a zither. (Ruan) Ji was overjoyed, and showed his eyes' dark pupils.

Pronunciation edit


Noun edit

青眼

  1. (archaic) the colored portion of the eye; iris
  2. (figurative) appreciation; favorable regard

Verb edit

青眼

  1. (literary, figurative) to appreciate; to esteem

Synonyms edit

Antonyms edit

  • (antonym(s) of all senses): 白眼 (báiyǎn)

Japanese edit

Kanji in this term
あお
Grade: 1

Grade: 5
kun’yomi
Alternative spelling
靑眼 (kyūjitai)
For pronunciation and definitions of 青眼 – see the following entry.
青目あおめ
[noun] blue eyes
[noun] Westerner
(This term, 青眼, is an alternative spelling of the above term.)