眯 mī to squint
to squint; to narrow the eyes
How to remember 眯: 目 eye + 米 rice = to squint. With her old eyes, Grandma picks tiny stones out of the rice and has to squint at every grain.
Component breakdown
眯 = 目 eye + 米 rice
- 目 eye
- 米 rice
With her old eyes, Grandma picks tiny stones out of the rice and has to squint at every grain.
How it is used
- To narrow/squint the eyes - 眯眼 (mī yǎn) to squint, 眯着眼笑 (mīzhe yǎn xiào) to smile with narrowed eyes, 眯了一会儿 (mī le yíhuìr) to catch a quick nap (eyes-shut).
- Also (read mí) to get something in one's eye: 沙子眯眼了 (shāzi mí yǎn le) grit got in my eye.