Definition
瞑目 is a literary verb meaning 'to close one's eyes at death; die content'. It is a separable verb (离合词): the object 目 can split off, usually with 不 inserted, forming the common idiom 死不瞑目 'to die with a grievance' or 'to die with unfulfilled wishes'. You'll almost never hear 瞑目 used alone in spoken Chinese — the negative form 死不瞑目 is far more frequent. Use 瞑目 only in formal or dramatic contexts.
v.o.
to die contentto close one's eyes in death (often in the negative construction 死不瞑目, meaning 'to die with regret')
Examples
- 瞑目。Lǎorén zài zǐnǚ de péibàn xià ānjìng de míng mù le.The old man peacefully closed his eyes in death, accompanied by his children.
- ，。Tā méi néng bàodá ēnrén, sǐ bù míng mù.He could not repay his benefactor, so he died with regret.
- ，瞑目。Wǒ ruò bù néng wánchéng zhè xiàng rènwu, sǐ bù míng mù.If I cannot complete this task, I will die with unfulfilled wishes.
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