盯 meaning and stroke order
To watch attentively; to fix one's attention on; to stare at
How to write 盯, stroke by stroke
7 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 盯
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to watch attentively
- to fix one's attention on
- to stare at
- to gaze at
How 盯 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Eye.
目 gives the meaning and 丁 hints at the sound.
Radical: 目 (eye), shared by 100 characters on this site.
How to remember 盯
盯 combines the eye 目 with 丁 (dīng), which gives the sound. Picture an eye fixed on something as firmly as a nail, since 丁 looks like a nail hammered in place.
盯 means to keep your eyes fixed on something or someone, often for a long time or with suspicion. It often takes a result word, as in 盯住 (dīngzhù) or 盯紧 (dīngjǐn). Example: 他一直盯着手机。(Tā yìzhí dīngzhe shǒujī.) He keeps staring at his phone.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes confuse 盯 with 叮 (dīng, to sting or bite, as a mosquito does) and 钉 (dīng, nail). All three share 丁 and the same sound, so check the left side: 目 for eye, 口 for mouth, 钅 for metal.
Common words with 盯
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 盯住 | dīngzhù | to watch sb closely; to breathe down sb's neck | |
| 盯紧 | dīngjǐn | to keep an eye on | |
| 盯梢 | dīngshāo | to follow sb; to tail |
盯 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 盯
How many strokes are in 盯?
盯 is written with 7 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 盯 mean?
盯 (dīng) means to watch attentively; to fix one's attention on; to stare at. A common word with it is 盯住 (dīngzhù), meaning "to watch sb closely; to breathe down sb's neck".
How do you pronounce 盯?
盯 is pronounced dīng, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 盯?
The radical of 盯 is 目, which carries the idea of "eye". Dictionaries list 盯 under this radical.
Is 盯 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 盯 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 盯 and 看?
看 (kàn) is the general word for look or watch. 盯 is stronger and means to stare fixedly or keep close watch, sometimes in a way that feels intense or uncomfortable.
Can 盯 mean to supervise or keep track of a task?
Yes. In everyday speech 盯 can mean to follow something closely so it gets done, as in 这件事你要盯紧 (zhè jiàn shì nǐ yào dīngjǐn), you need to keep a close eye on this matter.