Word

失眠 (shī mián) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 5

Meaning of 失眠

动 dòng verb

insomnia, to have insomnia

我昨晚失眠了。

wǒ zuó wǎn shī mián le

I had insomnia last night.

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Word breakdown

失 shī — to lose, to lack

眠 mián — sleep

1 睡眠 shuì mián — sleep HSK 5
- 睡 to sleep; contributes the core action of sleeping
- 眠 sleep; reinforces and formalizes the concept as a noun
Example

充足的睡眠对健康很重要。

chōng zú de shuì mián duì jiàn kāng hěn zhòng yào

Adequate sleep is very important for health.
2 休眠 xiū mián — hibernate, be dormant HSK 7
- 休 rest, cease activity
- 眠 sleep, state of unconsciousness
Example

许多动物在寒冷的冬季会休眠。

xǔ duō dòng wù zài hán lěng de dōng jì huì xiū mián

Many animals hibernate during the cold winter.
3 催眠 cuī mián — to hypnotize HSK 7
- 催 to induce, to prompt
- 眠 sleep, sleep-like state
Example

医生用催眠帮助病人放松。

yī shēng yòng cuī mián bāng zhù bìng rén fàng sōng

The doctor uses hypnosis to help patients relax.
4 安眠药 ān mián yào — sleeping pill HSK 7
- 安 peaceful, calm
- 眠 sleep
- 药 medicine, drug
Example

医生建议不要经常服用安眠药。

yī shēng jiàn yì bú yào jīng cháng fú yòng ān mián yào

The doctor advised not to take sleeping pills frequently.

Structure & writing

1 失 shī — to lose; to be deprived of (opposite of 得)

失 is a component in 4 characters

HSK 2

铁 tiě iron (metallic element, symbol Fe, atomic number 26)

HSK 6

秩 zhì (lit.) orderly; well-organized 跌 diē to fall down; to tumble

HSK 7

迭 dié to alternate; to take turns

consists of

1.1 丿 piě — the leftward-falling diagonal stroke in Chinese characters

丿 is a component in 14 characters

HSK 1

么 me suffix 午 wǔ the seventh of the twelve Earthly Branches 少 shǎo few; little (opposite of 多) 系 xì system; interconnected series

HSK 3

必 bì certainly; definitely

HSK 4

乒 pīng onomatopoeia for a gunshot or the sound of objects colliding 失 shī to lose; to be deprived of (opposite of 得) 血 xuè blood (the red fluid circulating in the body, composed of plasma, red cells, white cells, and platelets)

HSK 5

乏 fá lacking; without 币 bì currency; money used as a medium of exchange 延 yán to stretch and lengthen; to extend 追 zhuī to chase; to catch up with

HSK 7

勿 wù do not; must not (prohibition or dissuasion) 囱 cōng chimney; flue for stove or boiler

1.2 夫 fū — general term for an adult man

夫 is a component in 7 characters

HSK 4

失 shī to lose; to be deprived of (opposite of 得) 肤 fū skin, the outer surface of the human body 规 guī compass (for drawing circles)

HSK 5

扶 fú to support with one's hand to prevent falling, or to help something fallen stand up again 替 tì to replace; to substitute

HSK 6

夹 jiā to clamp; to press from both sides to hold something in place

HSK 7

撵 niǎn to expel, drive away

Stroke order

2 眠 mián — to sleep

眠 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

2.1 目 mù — eye

目 is a component in 38 characters

HSK 1

看 kàn to look at; to watch 睡 shuì to sleep

HSK 2

眼 yǎn eye (visual organ of humans and animals) 着 zhuó to wear (clothing) 睛 jīng eyeball, pupil of the eye

HSK 3

冒 mào to rise; to emerge; to come out 直 zhí straight; not curved (opposite of 曲) 相 xiāng mutually; each other

HSK 4

具 jù tool; utensil; implement 省 shěng to save; to economize (opposite of 费)

HSK 5

泪 lèi tears; colorless liquid secreted by the lacrimal glands of the eye 盾 dùn shield (ancient protective weapon used in battle) 眠 mián to sleep

HSK 6

盲 máng blind; unable to see 盼 pàn to eagerly hope for; to long for 眉 méi eyebrow 睁 zhēng to open one's eyes 督 dū to supervise, oversee, inspect

Show more HSK 6 characters (+2)

瞧 qiáo (colloq.) to look; to see 瞬 shùn to blink; to wink

HSK 7

渺 miǎo vast and boundless (of water) 盯 dīng to fix one's gaze on; to stare at 盹 dǔn a brief nap; a doze 眨 zhǎ to blink (the eyes) 眯 mī to squint; to narrow the eyes

Show more HSK 7 characters (+13)

眶 kuàng eye socket; the area around the eye 眺 tiào to gaze into the distance 睐 lài (lit.) having misaligned pupils 睦 mù harmonious; amicable 睬 cǎi to pay attention to; to take notice of 睹 dǔ to see; to witness 瞄 miáo to aim at; to fix one's gaze on a target 瞅 chǒu (dial.) to look; to gaze 瞎 xiā to go blind; (of eyes) to lose the ability to see 瞒 mán to conceal the truth from others 瞩 zhǔ to gaze at; to fix one's eyes on 瞪 dèng to open one's eyes wide 瞻 zhān to look up or look forward

2.2 民 mín — the people; common people

民 is a component in 2 characters

HSK 5

眠 mián to sleep

HSK 7

氓 máng see "流氓": ① vagrant; rogue or hooligan; ② indecent behavior such as harassing women

Stroke order