Definition
眼睁睁 is a verb phrase (v.p.) that literally means 'with eyes wide open' but is almost always used figuratively to describe watching something bad happen without being able to do anything — 'helplessly watching, looking on helplessly'. It typically appears in the pattern 眼睁睁地看着 (+ something happening), where 着 is the durative aspect particle. The phrase carries strong emotional overtones of frustration, regret, or resignation.
v.p.
(verb phrase) to watch helplesslyto look on without being able to interveneto stare wide-eyed (at something distressing)
Examples
- 眼睁睁。Tā zhǐ néng yǎn zhēng zhēng de kànzhe xiǎotōu pǎo diào le.He could only watch helplessly as the thief ran away.
- 眼睁睁。Wǒmen yǎn zhēng zhēng de kànzhe héshuǐ bǎ fángzi chōngzǒu le.We watched helplessly as the river washed the house away.
- 眼睁睁。Yīshēng yǎn zhēng zhēng de kànzhe bìngrén de shēngmìng yìdiǎndiǎn xiāoshī.The doctor watched helplessly as the patient's life slipped away little by little.
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