Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== mèngjiàn: 梦见 - to dream of, to see in a dream ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** 梦见, mengjian, mèngjiàn, dream of in Chinese, to see in a dream, how to say I dreamed of you in Chinese, Chinese word for dream, 做梦 vs 梦见, dream interpretation China, 周公解梦, 我梦见 * **Summary:** Learn how to use **梦见 (mèngjiàn)**, the essential Chinese verb for "to dream of" or "to see in a dream." This comprehensive guide covers everything from basic sentence structure, like saying "我梦见了你" (Wǒ mèngjiàn le nǐ) for "I dreamed of you," to the cultural significance of dreams in China, including the famous //Zhou Gong's Dream Dictionary//. Discover the crucial difference between **梦见 (mèngjiàn)** and **做梦 (zuòmèng)** to talk about your dreams like a native speaker. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** mèngjiàn * **Part of Speech:** Verb * **HSK Level:** HSK 3 * **Concise Definition:** To see or experience a person, thing, or event in a dream. * **In a Nutshell:** **梦见 (mèngjiàn)** is a compound verb that literally means "dream-see." It's used to talk about the specific //content// of a dream. Think of it as the action of perceiving something //within// the dream state. If **做梦 (zuòmèng)** is "to be dreaming," then **梦见 (mèngjiàn)** is "to dream //of// something." ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **梦 (mèng):** Dream. The top part, 艹 (originally 林), can be pictured as a dark, overgrown forest, and the bottom, 夕 (xī), means "dusk." Together, they evoke the hazy, mysterious world we enter at night. * **见 (jiàn):** To see, to perceive. This character is a pictograph of a person with a large eye (目) on top of legs (儿), emphasizing the act of seeing. * When combined, **梦见 (mèngjiàn)** forms a "resultative verb compound." You perform the action of dreaming (梦) and you achieve the result of seeing (见). This grammatical structure is very common in Chinese. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== In Chinese culture, dreams are not just random brain activity; they are often seen as significant omens, premonitions, or messages. The interpretation of dreams has a long and storied history. The most famous example is the **[[周公解梦]] (Zhōu Gōng Jiě Mèng) - //Zhou Gong's Dream Dictionary//**. Attributed to a revered figure from the Zhou Dynasty, this ancient text is a comprehensive guide to dream symbolism. For centuries, and even sometimes today, people would consult it to understand what their dreams meant for their fortune, health, or family. For example, dreaming of a snake might predict wealth, while dreaming of your teeth falling out could be a very bad omen for your parents. This contrasts with the typical modern Western view, which is heavily influenced by Freudian psychology and sees dreams as a reflection of our //internal subconscious//—our hidden desires, fears, and anxieties. The traditional Chinese perspective often treats dreams as a window into the //external world// and the future, a sign of a deep connection between humanity and the cosmos. While most modern urban Chinese people don't literally guide their lives by it, the idea of a dream having a special meaning is still a powerful cultural undercurrent. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **梦见 (mèngjiàn)** is a very common verb used in everyday conversation to recount the events of a dream. Its usage is straightforward and doesn't carry a particularly formal or informal tone. You can use it with friends, family, and in writing. It's almost always used to describe a literal dream that occurred during sleep. For metaphorical "dreams" like aspirations or hopes, you would use the word **[[梦想]] (mèngxiǎng)**. The verb is almost always followed by an object—the person, thing, or event that was seen in the dream. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 我昨晚**梦见**你了。 * Pinyin: Wǒ zuówǎn **mèngjiàn** nǐ le. * English: I dreamed of you last night. * Analysis: A simple, common, and often sweet or nostalgic thing to say to someone. The `了 (le)` indicates the completion of the action. * **Example 2:** * 他**梦见**自己会飞了。 * Pinyin: Tā **mèngjiàn** zìjǐ huì fēi le. * English: He dreamed that he could fly. * Analysis: Here, the object of **梦见** is a whole clause: "自己会飞了" (oneself can fly). * **Example 3:** * 我**梦见**我考试没及格，吓死我了！ * Pinyin: Wǒ **mèngjiàn** wǒ kǎoshì méi jígé, xià sǐ wǒ le! * English: I dreamed I failed my exam, it scared me to death! * Analysis: This shows how **梦见** is used to introduce the narrative of a nightmare. `吓死我了` is a common exclamation. * **Example 4:** * 你有没有**梦见**过已经去世的亲人？ * Pinyin: Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu **mèngjiàn** guo yǐjīng qùshì de qīnrén? * English: Have you ever dreamed of relatives who have already passed away? * Analysis: The structure `有没有 + Verb + 过` is a common way to ask "Have you ever...". The `过 (guo)` indicates past experience. * **Example 5:** * 我经常**梦见**同一个地方。 * Pinyin: Wǒ jīngcháng **mèngjiàn** tóng yī ge dìfang. * English: I often dream of the same place. * Analysis: `经常 (jīngcháng)` means "often," showing how **梦见** works with adverbs of frequency. * **Example 6:** * 她**梦见**到了一条会说话的鱼。 * Pinyin: Tā **mèngjiàn** dào le yī tiáo huì shuōhuà de yú. * English: She dreamed of a fish that could talk. * Analysis: The `到 (dào)` acts as a resultative complement, emphasizing the successful "arrival" or perception of the object in the dream. It's very common to see `梦见到`. * **Example 7:** * 如果你**梦见**蛇，在《周公解梦》里是好兆头。 * Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ **mèngjiàn** shé, zài "Zhōu Gōng Jiě Mèng" lǐ shì hǎo zhàotou. * English: If you dream of a snake, it's a good omen according to the "Zhou Gong's Dream Dictionary". * Analysis: This sentence directly links the verb to its cultural context. `兆头 (zhàotou)` means "omen." * **Example 8:** * 他说他从来没有**梦见**过彩色。 * Pinyin: Tā shuō tā cónglái méiyǒu **mèngjiàn** guo cǎisè. * English: He said he has never dreamed in color. * Analysis: `从来没有 (cónglái méiyǒu)...过` is a strong way to say "never ever." * **Example 9:** * 我居然**梦见**在和老板一起吃饭！ * Pinyin: Wǒ jūrán **mèngjiàn** zài hé lǎobǎn yīqǐ chīfàn! * English: I can't believe I dreamed I was eating with my boss! * Analysis: `居然 (jūrán)` adds a tone of surprise or disbelief to the event described. * **Example 10:** * 别担心，你只是**梦见**了而已。 * Pinyin: Bié dānxīn, nǐ zhǐshì **mèngjiàn** le éryǐ. * English: Don't worry, you just dreamed it, that's all. * Analysis: A reassuring phrase. `而已 (éryǐ)` means "that's all" or "nothing more," downplaying the significance of the dream. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== The most critical mistake for learners is confusing **梦见 (mèngjiàn)** with **做梦 (zuòmèng)**. * **做梦 (zuòmèng) - "To do dreaming":** This refers to the //general act// of having a dream. It's a separable verb, meaning you can put words in the middle, like `做了一个好梦 (zuò le yí ge hǎo mèng)` - "had a good dream." * Correct: 我昨晚**做梦**了。(Wǒ zuówǎn **zuòmèng** le.) - I dreamed last night. * Correct: 我昨晚**做**了一个很奇怪的**梦**。(Wǒ zuówǎn **zuò** le yí ge hěn qíguài de **mèng**.) - I had a very strange dream last night. * **梦见 (mèngjiàn) - "To dream-see":** This refers to the //specific content// of the dream. It must be followed by what you saw. * Correct: 我昨晚**梦见**了我的狗。(Wǒ zuówǎn **mèngjiàn** le wǒ de gǒu.) - I dreamed of my dog last night. * **Common Mistake:** * Incorrect: ~~我昨晚做梦我的狗。~~ (Wǒ zuówǎn zuòmèng wǒ de gǒu.) * **Why it's wrong:** **做梦 (zuòmèng)** cannot take a direct object like this. You need **梦见 (mèngjiàn)** to connect the dream to its content. Another point of confusion is with the English phrase "I dream of..." which can be metaphorical. * **梦见 (mèngjiàn)** is for literal dreams during sleep. * **梦想 (mèngxiǎng)** is for aspirations, hopes, and ambitions. * Example: My dream is to travel the world. -> 我的**梦想**是环游世界。(Wǒ de **mèngxiǎng** shì huányóu shìjiè.) * Incorrect: ~~我梦见环游世界。~~ (This would mean you literally had a dream while sleeping that you were traveling the world). ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[做梦]] (zuòmèng) - The general verb for the act of dreaming. * [[梦想]] (mèngxiǎng) - A dream in the sense of an aspiration, hope, or life goal. * [[噩梦]] (èmèng) - A nightmare (lit. "evil dream"). * [[白日梦]] (báirìmèng) - A daydream (lit. "daylight dream"). * [[梦境]] (mèngjìng) - The dreamscape; the environment or world within a dream. * [[梦寐以求]] (mèng mèi yǐ qiú) - A formal idiom meaning "to long for in one's dreams; to yearn for." * [[解梦]] (jiěmèng) - To interpret a dream (lit. "to solve/untie a dream"). * [[周公解梦]] (Zhōu Gōng Jiě Mèng) - The classic Chinese guide to dream interpretation. * [[梦幻]] (mènghuàn) - Dreamlike, fantastical, illusory.