眄

looking askance

Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

ベン
メン

Kun'yomi

かえり.みる

Meaning

眄 centers on looking sideways or with a sidelong glance, often implying a subtle, indirect, or askance look.

Most common words using 眄

右顧左眄うこさべん
inability to make up one's mind due to worrying about how others will think; hesitation; wavering; vacillation
左顧右眄さこうべん
looking right and left or all about; vacillation
流眄りゅうべん
sidelong glance
顧眄こべん
turning around to look (at); looking back (at)

Explore all words using 眄 →

Study

Etymology

眄 combines 目 (eye) with 丏, which likely contributes a phonetic element. The exact historical development of 丏 is uncertain, but the character is understood as relating to a sidelong glance.

Meaning mnemonic

The eye 目 on the left and the unusual right shape 丏 suggest an eye that is not looking straight ahead. Picture an eye glancing sideways, as if trying to see something without turning the head.

Reading mnemonic

For ベン, imagine a person named Ben giving you a sidelong glance: Ben -> ベン, and his eyes look askance.