眼镜
yǎnjìng
In Chinese, glasses is 眼镜 (yǎnjìng).
眼镜 refers to the specially shaped lenses worn in frames to correct vision or protect the eyes. To say one is wearing glasses, use the verb 戴 (dài) as it is used for accessories like hats or watches, rather than 穿 (chuān) which is used for clothes. If you want to refer specifically to the lenses themselves, you can use 眼镜片 (yǎnjìng piàn). You can also describe the frames, such as 黑框眼镜 (hēi kuàng yǎnjìng) for black-framed glasses.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 眼镜 is composed of 眼 (yǎn), meaning 'eye' and 镜 (jìng), meaning 'lens' or 'mirror'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term 眼镜儿 (yǎnjìng ér) is often used in Northern China.
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting glasses, use the classifier 副 (fù) to say 'a pair of glasses' (一副眼镜), instead of the general classifier 个 (gè).
How do you pronounce it?
yǎnjìng
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not confuse 眼镜 (yǎnjìng, glasses) with 眼睛 (yǎnjing, eyes). They are pronounced very similarly, but they refer to different things.
Did you know?
- The word for 'contact lenses' (隐形眼镜 yǐnxíng yǎnjìng) literally means 'invisible glasses'.
- The word 镜 (jìng) has historical roots in objects used for reflection, long before modern corrective lenses were invented.
- The classifier 副 (fù) used for glasses originally referred to a 'set' or 'pair' of matching objects, such as a pair of chopsticks.
Examples in context
- 汤姆没戴眼镜。Tom wasn't wearing glasses.This sentence is useful for saying someone was not wearing glasses.Tatoeba #9955906 by GlossaMatik, translation #9021763 by CK
- 我的眼镜在哪里？Where are my glasses?This sentence is useful for asking for the location of one's glasses.Tatoeba #408722 by GlossaMatik, translation #438930 by CK
- 你的眼镜最棒了。Your glasses are the best.This sentence is useful for complimenting someone's glasses.Tatoeba #10011681 by GlossaMatik, translation #12080402 by FishlandicFishy
- 我需要更换眼镜片。I need to replace my glasses lenses.
- 我得戴上我的眼镜才看得见。I can only see clearly with my glasses on.
- 你的眼镜儿很好看！Your glasses are very stylish!
- 22 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A living room where a man is looking for his things.
- 佳怡 Jiayi浩然，你的眼镜呢？Hàorán, nǐ de yǎnjìng ne?Haoran, where are your glasses?
- 浩然 Haoran我不知道，我找不到了。Wǒ bù zhīdào, wǒ zhǎo bù dào le.I don't know, I can't find them.
- 佳怡 Jiayi是在桌子上吗？Shì zài zhuōzi shàng ma?Are they on the table?
- 浩然 Haoran啊，找到了，就在这里。A, zhǎo dào le, jiù zài zhèlǐ.Ah, found them, they are right here.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
