How to Write 眔 (dà) — Meaning “to look down; tears”

Imagine an eye (目) with two tears streaming down from it — the bottom part of the character looks like two vertical lines and a small shape, like drops of water. This image directly connects the character to its meaning of tears and looking down as if crying.

First write the 目 component (5 strokes) as a narrow rectangle, then add the bottom part: a horizontal stroke followed by two vertical strokes and two short diagonal strokes (like a small '氺' shape). A common mistake is making the bottom too wide or misaligning it with the eye above; keep it centered and compact.

眔 has a top-bottom structure with 目 above and a dripping-water component below, meaning 'look down' or 'tears'. In contrast, 盱 (xū) is left-right (目 + 于) meaning 'stare', and 盲 (máng) is top-bottom with 亡 above 目 meaning 'blind'. Visually, 眔's bottom part is unique and not seen in the other two.

眔 is an archaic character rarely used in modern Chinese; it appears mainly in classical texts or poetry. Words like 眔眔 (dà dà, looking down or dripping) and 眔水 (dà shuǐ, tears) are historical and not part of everyday vocabulary, so learners may only encounter it in ancient literature or calligraphy.

Common words containing 眔 include: 眔眔 (dà dà) — looking down; dripping; 眔下 (dà xià) — to look down; to hang down; 眔水 (dà shuǐ) — tears (archaic).