近视

jìnshì: 近视 - Nearsightedness, Myopia

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: jinshi, 近视, nearsightedness in Chinese, myopia in Chinese, I am nearsighted Chinese, bad eyesight Chinese, how to say glasses in Chinese, Chinese vision problems, Chinese eyesight.
  • Summary: Learn how to say and use 近视 (jìnshì), the Chinese word for 'nearsightedness' or 'myopia'. This comprehensive guide explores its meaning, character breakdown, and cultural context related to high academic pressure in China. Discover practical example sentences for talking about eyesight, getting glasses (眼镜), and describing vision problems, perfect for beginners learning essential daily vocabulary.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): jìnshì
  • Part of Speech: Noun, Adjective
  • HSK Level: HSK 4
  • Concise Definition: The condition of being unable to see distant objects clearly; nearsightedness or myopia.
  • In a Nutshell: 近视 (jìnshì) is the direct medical and conversational term for being nearsighted. If you can see things up close but far-away objects are blurry, you have 近视. It's an extremely common and neutral word in China, used both when describing your own vision and in clinical settings like an eye doctor's office.

Character Breakdown

  • 近 (jìn): This character means “near,” “close,” or “to approach.” It depicts an axe (斤) near a path, signifying getting close to something.
  • 视 (shì): This character means “to see,” “vision,” or “sight.” The left part (礻) is a variant of the “spirit” or “omen” radical, and the right part is 见 (jiàn), which itself means “to see.”
  • Together, 近视 (jìnshì) literally translates to “near-sight.” This is a perfect and intuitive description of the condition: only having clear vision for things that are near.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • In China, 近视 is more than just a medical condition; it's a widespread societal phenomenon. The prevalence of myopia among children and young adults is among the highest in the world, a fact widely attributed to the country's intense, highly competitive education system. From a very young age, students spend long hours reading, writing, and studying indoors, which are major contributing factors to developing 近视.
  • Comparison to the West: While getting glasses is a normal part of life everywhere, in China, the high rate of 近视 is a topic of national health concern and frequent public discussion. It's often viewed as an unfortunate but expected side effect of academic diligence. You will frequently encounter public service announcements and school-led initiatives aimed at “protecting eyesight” (保护视力, bǎohù shìlì), such as mandatory eye exercises during the school day.
  • Related Values: The term is intrinsically linked to the high cultural value placed on education (教育, jiàoyù) and academic success. For many families, a child developing 近视 is a sign of their hard work and dedication to their studies, even while it remains a health concern.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • 近视 is a neutral, everyday term used in all contexts, from casual conversation to formal medical diagnoses.
  • As a noun: It refers to the condition itself.
    • e.g., 我有近视。 (Wǒ yǒu jìnshì.) - I have myopia.
  • As an adjective: It can be used to describe a person or their eyes.
    • e.g., 我近视了。 (Wǒ jìnshì le.) - I've become nearsighted.
    • e.g., 他有一双近视眼。 (Tā yǒu yī shuāng jìnshì yǎn.) - He has a pair of nearsighted eyes.
  • When discussing the severity, people use 度 (dù), which means “degree.”
    • e.g., 我近视五百度。 (Wǒ jìnshì wǔbǎi dù.) - I am 500 degrees nearsighted. (Equivalent to a -5.0 diopter prescription).

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 我觉得我最近有点儿近视，远处的东西看不清楚。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ juéde wǒ zuìjìn yǒudiǎnr jìnshì, yuǎn chù de dōngxi kàn bù qīngchǔ.
    • English: I think I've become a little nearsighted recently; I can't see things far away clearly.
    • Analysis: A common way to describe the onset of symptoms. 看不清楚 (kàn bù qīngchǔ) “can't see clearly” is the key result of 近视.
  • Example 2:
    • 你近视多少度？需要戴眼镜吗？
    • Pinyin: Nǐ jìnshì duōshǎo dù? Xūyào dài yǎnjìng ma?
    • English: What is the prescription for your nearsightedness? Do you need to wear glasses?
    • Analysis: 多少度 (duōshǎo dù) “how many degrees?” is the standard question to ask about the severity of someone's 近视.
  • Example 3:
    • 医生说，我的近视又加深了。
    • Pinyin: Yīshēng shuō, wǒ de jìnshì yòu jiāshēn le.
    • English: The doctor said my nearsightedness has gotten worse again.
    • Analysis: 加深 (jiāshēn), “to deepen,” is the verb used to describe myopia worsening.
  • Example 4:
    • 为了防止近视，孩子们应该多参加户外活动。
    • Pinyin: Wèile fángzhǐ jìnshì, háizimen yīnggāi duō cānjiā hùwài huódòng.
    • English: To prevent nearsightedness, children should participate in more outdoor activities.
    • Analysis: This reflects the common cultural conversation in China around preventing 近视 in young people.
  • Example 5:
    • 我是天生的近视，从小就戴眼镜。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ shì tiānshēng de jìnshì, cóngxiǎo jiù dài yǎnjìng.
    • English: I am congenitally nearsighted; I've been wearing glasses since I was little.
    • Analysis: 天生的 (tiānshēng de) means “innate” or “natural,” used here to explain the condition is not recently developed.
  • Example 6:
    • 他不戴眼镜的时候，你看得出来他近视吗？
    • Pinyin: Tā bù dài yǎnjìng de shíhòu, nǐ kàn de chūlái tā jìnshì ma?
    • English: When he's not wearing glasses, can you tell he's nearsighted?
    • Analysis: 看得出来 (kàn de chūlái) is a resultative complement meaning “to be able to tell by looking.”
  • Example 7:
    • 现在很多年轻人选择做激光手术来矫正近视。
    • Pinyin: Xiànzài hěn duō niánqīng rén xuǎnzé zuò jīguāng shǒushù lái jiǎozhèng jìnshì.
    • English: Nowadays, many young people choose to get laser surgery to correct their myopia.
    • Analysis: 矫正 (jiǎozhèng) means “to correct,” and is the formal term for treating conditions like 近视.
  • Example 8:
    • 别在太暗的光线下看书，容易导致近视。
    • Pinyin: Bié zài tài àn de guāngxiàn xià kànshū, róngyì dǎozhì jìnshì.
    • English: Don't read in light that's too dim; it can easily lead to nearsightedness.
    • Analysis: 导致 (dǎozhì) means “to lead to” or “to cause,” often used for negative outcomes.
  • Example 9:
    • 我的近视不严重，只有上课的时候才戴眼镜。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ de jìnshì bù yánzhòng, zhǐyǒu shàngkè de shíhòu cái dài yǎnjìng.
    • English: My nearsightedness isn't severe; I only wear glasses during class.
    • Analysis: 不严重 (bù yánzhòng) “not severe” is a simple way to describe a mild condition.
  • Example 10:
    • 如果你同时有近视和散光，你需要配一副特殊的眼镜。
    • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ tóngshí yǒu jìnshì hé sǎnguāng, nǐ xūyào pèi yī fù tèshū de yǎnjìng.
    • English: If you have both myopia and astigmatism, you need to get a special pair of glasses.
    • Analysis: Shows how 近视 is used alongside other vision-related terms like 散光 (sǎnguāng), astigmatism.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • Mistake 1: Using for metaphorical “shortsightedness”.
    • In English, “shortsighted” can mean a lack of foresight or poor long-term planning. The Chinese term 近视 is almost exclusively a literal, medical term for eyesight. Using it metaphorically will sound very unnatural.
    • Incorrect: 他做生意很近视。 (Tā zuò shēngyì hěn jìnshì.)
    • Correct: To express a lack of foresight, you must use a different term like 目光短浅 (mùguāng duǎnqiǎn), which literally means “eyesight is short.”
    • Example: 他做生意目光短浅，只关心眼前利益。 (Tā zuò shēngyì mùguāng duǎnqiǎn, zhǐ guānxīn yǎnqián lìyì.) - He is shortsighted in business, only caring about immediate profits.
  • Mistake 2: Confusing the condition with the symptom.
    • 近视 is the condition of being nearsighted. 模糊 (móhu) is the symptom of seeing things in a blurry way. You have 近视, which causes distant objects to look 模糊.
    • Incorrect: 我看黑板很近视。 (Wǒ kàn hēibǎn hěn jìnshì.)
    • Correct: 因为我近视，所以看黑板很模糊。 (Yīnwèi wǒ jìnshì, suǒyǐ kàn hēibǎn hěn móhu.) - Because I'm nearsighted, the blackboard looks very blurry.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • * 远视 (yuǎnshì) - Farsightedness (hyperopia). The direct antonym of 近视.
  • * 眼镜 (yǎnjìng) - Eyeglasses. The most common solution for 近视.
  • * 隐形眼镜 (yǐnxíng yǎnjìng) - Contact lenses. Literally “invisible eyeglasses.”
  • * 视力 (shìlì) - Vision or eyesight. The general quality of one's sight. (e.g., “My vision is 20/20” - 我的视力是1.0 Wǒ de shìlì shì yī diǎn líng).
  • * 散光 (sǎnguāng) - Astigmatism. Another common vision problem often co-occurring with 近视.
  • * 模糊 (móhu) - Blurry, indistinct. The primary symptom experienced by someone with 近视.
  • * 度数 (dùshù) - Degree; prescription strength. Used to quantify how severe one's 近视 is.
  • * 眼科 (yǎnkē) - Ophthalmology; the eye department in a hospital.
  • * 保护视力 (bǎohù shìlì) - To protect one's eyesight. A very common phrase in China, especially in schools.
  • * 激光手术 (jīguāng shǒushù) - Laser surgery. A modern method to correct 近视.