眼红

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Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The term 眼红 (yǎnhóng) literally means "eyes red," but it is commonly used to express jealousy or envy toward someone else's possessions, achievements, or advantages. It often implies a mild or natural feeling of wanting what others have rather than intense resentment.

Common Contexts

You will hear 眼红 used in everyday conversations when people talk about feeling envious of others’ success, belongings, or status. It is informal and can be used in both spoken and written Chinese.

Collocations and Patterns

These collocations emphasize the target of envy and are very common in daily speech.

Nuances

Using 眼红 often conveys a somewhat lighthearted or relatable emotion rather than harsh criticism. It differs from stronger words like 嫉妒 (jídù), which can carry a more negative or hostile tone.

Common Confusion

Don’t confuse 眼红 with literal redness of the eyes due to irritation or illness. In context, 眼红 almost always refers to envy or jealousy.

Example Sentences

He felt a bit jealous when he saw his colleague get promoted.

Don’t envy others’ success; just work hard to do your own best.

She envies others’ new phones and wants to buy the same one.