目不转睛 (mù bù zhuǎn jīng)

Character breakdown

• 目 (mù) · 5 strokes

  Pictograph of an eye.

• 不 (bù) · 4 strokes

  Pictograph of sepals of a flower. The modern meaning "no" is a phonetic loan.

• 转 (zhuǎi) · 8 strokes

  Simplified form of 轉. Phonosemantic compound. 车 represents the meaning and 專 represents the sound.

• 睛 (jīng) · 13 strokes

  Phonosemantic compound. 目 represents the meaning and 青 represents the sound.

Usage

孩子们目不转睛地看着电视。

unable to take one's eyes off (idiom); to gaze steadily; to stare

hái zi men mù bù zhuǎn jīng dì kàn zhe diàn shì 。