目不转睛
目不转睛 (mù bù zhuǎn jīng) literally means “eyes do not turn away” and expresses “focus intently”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance.
Also searched as: mu bu zhuan jing, mu bu zhuan jing,目不转睛 meaning, 目不转睛 in english
Focus intently
Pronunciation: mù bù zhuǎn jīng Literal meaning: Eyes do not turn away
Origin & Usage
Eyes (目) that do not (不) turn (转) the pupil (睛). The precision is anatomical: not merely watching but the total absence of the small saccades a relaxed eye makes constantly, which is why it reads as a physical description rather than a compliment about diligence. It is used of an audience during the decisive moment of a performance, of a child in front of something astonishing, and of a surgeon. What it claims is absorption deep enough to suspend an involuntary movement.
Examples
English: "The surgeon performed the delicate procedure with complete concentration"
Chinese: 外科医生全神贯注地进行着精密手术
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
目不暇给
mù bù xiá jǐ
Too much to take in
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目无全牛
mù wú quán niú
Achieve instinctive mastery
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一叶障目
yī yè zhàng mù
Miss big picture
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刮目相看
guā mù xiāng kàn
Reassess someone who has improved
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鱼目混珠
yú mù hùn zhū
Passing fakes as genuine
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耳濡目染
ěr rú mù rǎn
Learning unconsciously through constant exposure
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侧目而视
cè mù ér shì
Regard with fear and resentment
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耳目一新
ěr mù yī xīn
A refreshing new experience
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 目不转睛 mean in English?
目不转睛 (mù bù zhuǎn jīng) literally translates to “Eyes do not turn away” and is used to express “Focus intently”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 目不转睛 used?
Situation: The surgeon performed the delicate procedure with complete concentration
What is the pinyin for 目不转睛?
The pinyin pronunciation for 目不转睛 is “mù bù zhuǎn jīng”.
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