近视

• Pinyin: jìn shì
• Hanzi breakdown: 近 = 辶 + 斤, near; 视 = 礻+ 见, to look/see

Meaning

Nearsighted; myopic. A vision condition where distant objects appear blurry.

A common term describing the eye condition of myopia, prevalent in discussions about health, especially among students. Common collocations include 近视眼 (nearsighted eyes), 近视镜 (glasses for nearsightedness), and 近视度数 (degree of nearsightedness). Can also be used metaphorically to describe shortsightedness in thinking or planning.

Examples

1. 现在的孩子近视率越来越高，跟电子产品使用过度有关。 The rate of nearsightedness among children today is getting higher and higher, related to excessive use of electronic devices.
2. 我从小学就开始近视了，现在度数已经五百多度。 I've been nearsighted since elementary school; my prescription is already over 500 degrees now.
3. 配一副近视眼镜要花不少钱，尤其是镜片好的。 Getting a pair of prescription glasses for nearsightedness costs quite a bit of money, especially if the lenses are good quality.

Usage Guide

Context: health, education, everyday

Tone: matter-of-fact

Do Say

• 你近视多少度？(What's your nearsightedness prescription?)
• 他近视得厉害，不戴眼镜什么都看不清。(He's severely nearsighted; he can't see anything clearly without glasses.)

Don't Say

• 混淆近视和远视，如用近视形容看不清近处 (近视 is seeing near clearly but not far; 远视 is the opposite — don't confuse them)

Origin & History

Compound of 近 (near) + 视 (to see). Literally 'seeing near' — only able to see clearly at close range.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal