è mèng: 噩梦 - Nightmare

• Keywords: e meng, 噩梦, nightmare in Chinese, bad dream Chinese, Chinese word for nightmare, what is emeng, how to say nightmare in Chinese, 噩梦 meaning, 噩梦 vs 恶梦
• Summary: Learn the Chinese word for nightmare, 噩梦 (è mèng). This comprehensive guide covers its literal meaning (a frightening dream) and its common figurative use to describe any terrible or dreadful experience. Discover the character breakdown, cultural significance of dreams in China, and see 10 practical example sentences to master its usage in real-life conversation.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): è mèng
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A frightening or unpleasant dream; a nightmare.
• In a Nutshell: 噩梦 (è mèng) is the direct equivalent of the English word “nightmare.” It's used both literally to describe a terrifying dream you have while sleeping and figuratively to describe a waking experience that is dreadful, chaotic, or intensely unpleasant, like a disastrous trip or a high-pressure project gone wrong.

• 噩 (è): This character means “bad,” “shocking,” or “frightening.” It is composed of two

口 (kǒu - mouth) at the top and a

  王 (wáng - king) below (though its etymology is complex, think of it as something that causes a king to cry out in alarm). Its core meaning is about a sudden, shocking badness.
* **梦 (mèng):** This character means "dream." The top part (
  林 without the right-hand tree, originally 
  爿) can be associated with a bed, and the bottom part is 
  夕 (xī - evening/night). It visually represents something that happens at night while in bed.

When combined, 噩梦 (è mèng) literally means “frightening dream,” a straightforward and powerful combination that perfectly captures the concept of a nightmare.

In traditional Chinese culture, dreams were not merely random brain activity but were often viewed as omens, messages from the spirit world, or reflections of one's physical health. An 噩梦 (è mèng) could be interpreted as a bad omen, a warning of impending misfortune, or a sign of imbalance in the body's qi (气). This contrasts with the primarily psychological interpretation (subconscious fears, anxieties) common in modern Western culture, though this view is now also prevalent in China. Unlike a more abstract Western concept, the Chinese understanding of a nightmare could be very pragmatic. For example, traditional medicine might link recurring nightmares of a certain type to an imbalance in a specific organ, like the liver or kidneys. Figuratively, 噩梦 (è mèng) is used almost identically to “nightmare” in English. It describes a situation of extreme distress or difficulty. Calling an event “a nightmare” (一场噩梦 - yī chǎng è mèng) conveys a deep sense of suffering, helplessness, and a desire for the ordeal to end. This shared usage makes it a relatively easy concept for English speakers to grasp.

噩梦 (è mèng) is a common word used in both formal and informal contexts.

• Literal Use (Talking about sleep): It is the standard term for a bad dream. Chinese people will talk about having a nightmare just as an English speaker would.
  • Example: “我昨晚做了个噩梦，吓死我了！” (Wǒ zuówǎn zuòle ge è mèng, xià sǐ wǒle! - I had a nightmare last night, it scared me to death!)
• Figurative Use (Describing a terrible experience): This is extremely common in daily conversation, on social media, and in the news. It's used to describe anything from a terrible exam to a natural disaster. It adds a strong emotional weight, emphasizing the suffering involved.
  • Example: “高峰时间的交通简直是一场噩梦。” (Gāofēng shíjiān de jiāotōng jiǎnzhí shì yī chǎng è mèng. - Rush hour traffic is simply a nightmare.)

Its connotation is always negative, implying fear, stress, and anxiety.

• Example 1:
  • 我昨晚做了一个噩梦，梦见我被怪物追。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zuówǎn zuòle yīgè è mèng, mèng jiàn wǒ bèi guàiwù zhuī.
  • English: I had a nightmare last night; I dreamed that I was being chased by a monster.
  • Analysis: This is the most basic and literal usage. The verb for “to have a dream/nightmare” is `做 (zuò)`.
• Example 2:
  • 别怕，那只是一个噩梦而已。
  • Pinyin: Bié pà, nà zhǐshì yīgè è mèng éryǐ.
  • English: Don't be scared, it was just a nightmare.
  • Analysis: A common phrase used to comfort someone (especially a child) who has just woken up from a nightmare. `而已 (éryǐ)` means “that's all” or “just.”
• Example 3:
  • 对很多学生来说，高考就像一场噩梦。
  • Pinyin: Duì hěnduō xuéshēng lái shuō, gāokǎo jiù xiàng yī chǎng è mèng.
  • English: For many students, the college entrance exam (Gaokao) is like a nightmare.
  • Analysis: A classic figurative use. It compares a real-life, high-stress event to the feeling of a nightmare. `就像 (jiù xiàng)` means “is just like.”
• Example 4:
  • 这次失败的投资成了他挥之不去的噩梦。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì shībài de tóuzī chéngle tā huī zhī bù qù de è mèng.
  • English: This failed investment became his lingering nightmare.
  • Analysis: Shows a more literary or formal use. `挥之不去 (huī zhī bù qù)` is a chengyu (idiom) meaning “impossible to get rid of,” often used to describe memories or feelings.
• Example 5:
  • 我希望我能从这场噩梦中醒来。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xīwàng wǒ néng cóng zhè chǎng è mèng zhōng xǐng lái.
  • English: I hope I can wake up from this nightmare.
  • Analysis: This can be used both literally (while dreaming) and figuratively (wishing a terrible situation would end). The measure word for a nightmare or event is `场 (chǎng)`.
• Example 6:
  • 小时候，我经常做同样的噩梦。
  • Pinyin: Xiǎoshíhòu, wǒ jīngcháng zuò tóngyàng de è mèng.
  • English: When I was little, I often had the same nightmare.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how to talk about recurring nightmares. `同样的 (tóngyàng de)` means “the same.”
• Example 7:
  • 整个项目变成了一场后勤噩梦。
  • Pinyin: Zhěnggè xiàngmù biàn chéngle yī chǎng hòuqín è mèng.
  • English: The entire project turned into a logistical nightmare.
  • Analysis: This shows how 噩梦 can be combined with other nouns to specify the type of “nightmare,” just like in English.
• Example 8:
  • 战争的记忆对他来说是一段持续的噩梦。
  • Pinyin: Zhànzhēng de jìyì duì tā lái shuō shì yīduàn chíxù de è mèng.
  • English: For him, the memory of the war is a continuous nightmare.
  • Analysis: Uses the measure word `段 (duàn)` to refer to a period of time, framing the nightmare as an ongoing traumatic experience.
• Example 9:
  • 我从噩梦中惊醒，满头大汗。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ cóng è mèng zhōng jīng xǐng, mǎntóu dà hàn.
  • English: I woke up startled from a nightmare, covered in sweat.
  • Analysis: `惊醒 (jīng xǐng)` means “to wake up with a start.” This sentence paints a vivid picture of the physical effects of a nightmare.
• Example 10:
  • 他的童年生活是一场无法形容的噩梦。
  • Pinyin: Tā de tóngnián shēnghuó shì yī chǎng wúfǎ xíngróng de è mèng.
  • English: His childhood was an indescribable nightmare.
  • Analysis: `无法形容 (wúfǎ xíngróng)` means “indescribable” or “beyond description,” used here to emphasize the severity of the figurative nightmare.

• 噩梦 (è mèng) vs. 恶梦 (è mèng):
  • Learners will frequently encounter 恶梦. Both words are pronounced identically (è mèng) and mean nightmare. 噩梦 is technically the more “correct” or traditional term, as 噩 (è) specifically means shocking/alarming. 恶 (è) means evil/bad. In modern usage, especially online and in informal writing, they are used almost interchangeably. For learners, it's best to learn and use 噩梦, but recognize 恶梦 as a common variant.
• 噩梦 (è mèng) vs. A “Bad Dream”:
  • Just like in English, there's a difference in intensity between a “nightmare” and a “bad dream.” While Chinese doesn't have a perfect one-to-one word for a mild “bad dream” (one might say `一个不好的梦 - yīgè bù hǎo de mèng`), 噩梦 always implies a high level of fear, terror, and distress. Using it for a dream that was merely strange or slightly unpleasant would be an exaggeration.
• Incorrect Usage:
  • Mistake: “我有一个梦想。我的梦想是一场噩梦。” (Wǒ yǒu yīgè mèngxiǎng. Wǒ de mèngxiǎng shì yī chǎng è mèng.)
  • Why it's wrong: This incorrectly mixes up `梦想 (mèngxiǎng)` which means “dream” in the sense of an aspiration or goal, with 噩梦 (è mèng). The sentence nonsensically says “I have a dream/aspiration. My dream/aspiration is a nightmare.” Be sure to distinguish between dreams (goals) and dreams (during sleep).

• 做梦 (zuò mèng) - To dream. The basic verb for the action of dreaming.
• 梦见 (mèng jiàn) - To dream of; to see in a dream. Used to describe the content of a dream (e.g., “我梦见你了” - I dreamed of you).
• 恶梦 (è mèng) - The common variant/synonym for 噩梦, using the character for “evil” instead of “frightening.”
• 梦魇 (mèng yǎn) - Sleep paralysis. A more intense, literary, or clinical term that refers to the feeling of being held down or suffocated in a dream. More terrifying than a standard 噩梦.
• 白日梦 (báirì mèng) - Daydream. Literally “white sun dream.”
• 梦想 (mèngxiǎng) - A dream (aspiration), a goal, an ideal. This is the positive, aspirational type of “dream.”
• 可怕 (kěpà) - Scary, frightening. An adjective you would use to describe an 噩梦.
• 恐惧 (kǒngjù) - Fear, terror, phobia. The noun for the feeling an 噩梦 causes.
• 惊醒 (jīng xǐng) - To wake up with a start. The verb often associated with the end of an 噩梦.