醒目

• Pinyin: xǐng mù
• Hanzi breakdown: 醒 = 酉 + 星 (awake/clear); 目 = pictograph of an eye

Meaning

Eye-catching; conspicuous; striking to the eye. Describes something that stands out clearly and attracts attention.

Used to describe signs, headlines, colours, or designs that are highly visible. Common in advertising, journalism, and graphic design. The emphasis is on visual prominence rather than beauty.

Examples

1. 广告牌上的文字醒目大方，即便在夜间也清晰可辨。 The wording on the billboard is clear and well-designed, easy to read even at night.
2. 报纸以醒目的标题报道了这一重大事件，立即引发了社会的广泛关注。 The newspaper ran a striking headline about the major incident, immediately drawing widespread public attention.
3. 她穿着一件颜色醒目的红色外套，在人群中一眼便能认出。 She wore a bright red coat, easy to spot in the crowd at a glance.

Usage Guide

Context: media, design, advertising

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这份报告用醒目的图表呈现核心数据，便于读者迅速把握要点。(This report uses striking charts to present key data, making it easy for readers to quickly grasp the main points.)
• 路口设置了醒目的警示标志，有效降低了交通事故的发生率。(Conspicuous warning signs were placed at the intersection, effectively reducing the incidence of traffic accidents.)

Don't Say

• 他的才华很醒目 — 醒目 applies to visual appearance; for abstract qualities use 突出 or 显著; saying 才华醒目 is awkward since talent is not visually perceived

Origin & History

醒 (clear/alert) + 目 (eye) — something that makes the eye 'alert/awake'

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal