辣眼睛

• Pinyin: là yǎn jīng
• Hanzi breakdown: 辣 (spicy/stinging) + 眼睛 (eyes) -> visually painful to see.

Meaning

Visually unpleasant, tacky, or hard to look at. It literally suggests something is so bad it stings the eyes.

辣眼睛 is a vivid casual complaint about outfits, design, scenes, or awkward visuals. It is blunt, so it can sound rude if aimed at a person.

Examples

1. 这个配色太辣眼睛，我看不下去。 This colour scheme is so tacky I can't bear to look at it.
2. 海报字体乱到有点辣眼睛。 The poster's typography is such a mess it's hard on the eyes.
3. 别这样搭，真的很辣眼睛。 Don't dress like that. It's really awful to look at.

Usage Guide

Context: friends, design critique, social media

Tone: blunt, mocking

Do Say

• 这个滤镜有点辣眼睛。（This filter is a bit hard to look at.）
• 颜色别太冲，不然辣眼睛。（Do not make the colors too harsh.）

Don't Say

• 当面评价别人外貌辣眼睛。（That is rude and hurtful.）

Common Mistakes

• Using it for mild dislike; it implies strong visual discomfort.

Origin & History

Literally means spicy to the eyes, extending 辣 from physical sting to visual discomfort.

Cultural Context

Era: 2010s onward

Generation: Internet users and short-video audiences

Social background: Mainstream casual speech

Regional notes: Common across Mainland China.