眩
faint, dizzy
Readings
On'yomi
- ゲン
- カン
Kun'yomi
- げん.す
- くるめ.く
- まぶ.しい
- くら.む
- まど.う
- めま.い
- まばゆ.い
- くれ.る
- ま.う
Meaning
眩 centers on a disorienting sensory overload that makes one feel faint, dizzy, or blinded by brightness. The given meanings all describe states where perception is overwhelmed.
Most common words using 眩
- 眩しいまぶしいN3
dazzling; radiant
- 眩暈めまいN3
dizziness; giddiness; vertigo
- 眩むくらむ
to be dazzled by; to be dizzied by; to be disoriented by
- 眩いまばゆい
dazzling; glaring; dazzlingly beautiful
- 眩いまぶい
cute; pretty
- 眩うまう
to be dizzy; to be vertiginous
- 眩くくるめく
to feel dizzy; to feel faint
- 眩ますくらます
to dazzle; to make dizzy; to bewilder
- 眩惑げんわく
dazzlement; bewilderment; daze
- 眩暈げんうん
dizziness; giddiness; vertigo
- 眩瞑げんめい
dizziness
- 瞑眩めいけん
dizziness
- 防眩ぼうげん
antiglare (filter, mirror, etc.)
Study
Etymology
眩 combines 目 (eye) with 玄, which likely contributes the sound and suggests something deep or dark, together conveying the idea of vision becoming unclear or dizzy.
Meaning mnemonic
The eye 目 sees something mysterious and dark 玄, making the vision swirl and the person feel faint and dizzy.
Reading mnemonic
For ゲン, imagine a dizzy person trying to focus on a genie emerging from the dark 玄: genie -> ゲン, and the sight makes the eyes 目 spin.