Definition
闷 (mèn) has two distinct meanings: (1) a feeling of being bored, depressed, or shut-in — stronger and more oppressive than 无聊 (bored from lack of interest), and more about confinement than 忧郁 (deep melancholy); (2) airtight or sealed, as in 密封袋. For the 'sealed' sense, 闷 is an adjective, while 密封 (mìfēng) is the verb 'to seal up'.
adjective
boreddepressedmelancholysealedairtighttightly closed
verb
to close tightlyto seal up
Easily confused
- 问wènlook-aliketo ask
- 门ménsound-alikedoor; gate
- 间jiānlook-alike(classifier) for rooms, offices, and other enclosed spaces
- 闲xiánlook-alikefree (not busy), idle, unoccupied
- 闪shǎnlook-aliketo dodge, to duck out of the way
- 们menlook-alike(suffix) plural marker for pronouns and nouns referring to people
Examples
- 闷，。Tā zuìjìn xīnqíng hěn mèn, zǒng shì yí gè rén fādāi.He's been feeling depressed lately, always spacing out alone.
- 闷，。Zhège mìfēngdài shì mèn de, kōngqì jìn bù qù.This sealing bag is airtight; air can't get in.
- 闷，。Tā bǎ gàizi mèn shàng le, fángzhǐ lòuqì.He sealed the lid tightly to prevent air leakage.
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