📖 Meaning
A sensation of dizziness and blurred vision, as if everything around you is spinning. It describes a physical state where one feels lightheaded and the eyes see things unclearly, often caused by fatigue, illness, shock, or sensory overload.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Qing Dynasty novel 'Dream of the Red Chamber' (红楼梦) by Cao Xueqin. In the sixth chapter, the protagonist Liu Lao Lao (Granny Liu), a poor country woman, enters the opulent Rong Mansion for the first time. The dazzling display of wealth and luxurious furnishings overwhelms her senses, making her feel dizzy and dazzled. The phrase vividly captures the disorientation of someone unaccustomed to grandeur.
💡 Example Usage
他连续加了三天班，站起来时只觉得头晕目眩，差点摔倒。
After working overtime for three straight days, he felt so dizzy and lightheaded when he stood up that he nearly fell over.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 头晕目眩
- Pinyin: tóu yūn mù xuàn
- Literal Translation: head dizzy, eyes dazzled
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4