eye-catching; conspicuous (often used in the negative)
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesadjective
eye-catching; conspicuous; noteworthy
informalMost commonly used in the negative form (不怎么起眼儿, 不起眼儿) to describe something or someone that doesn't attract attention. It often implies that despite an unassuming appearance, the thing or person is actually important or valuable.
Zhè这
jiā家
xiǎo小
diàn店
mén门
miàn面
bù不
zěn怎
me么
qǐ起
yǎn眼
r儿
，
dàn但
zuò做
de的
cài菜
fēi非
cháng常
hǎo好
chī吃
。
This little restaurant's storefront isn't very eye-catching, but the food is delicious.
Tā他
shì是
gè个
hěn很
bù不
qǐ起
yǎn眼
r儿
de的
xué学
sheng生
，
què却
shì是
gè个
shù数
xué学
tiān天
cái才
。
He's a very inconspicuous student, but he's a math genius.
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Zhè这
xiē些
líng零
jiàn件
suī虽
rán然
bù不
qǐ起
yǎn眼
r儿
，
dàn但
zài在
zhěng整
gè个
jī机
qì器
zhōng中
zhì至
guān关
zhòng重
yào要
。
Although these parts are inconspicuous, they are crucial to the whole machine.
Bié别
kàn看
zhè这
jiàn件
lǐ礼
wù物
bù不
qǐ起
yǎn眼
r儿
，
nà那
kě可
shì是
tā她
qīn亲
shǒu手
zuò做
de的
。
Don't look down on this gift just because it's unassuming; she made it with her own hands.
Nà那
gè个
jiǎo角
luò落
de的
wèi位
zhi置
hěn很
qǐ起
yǎn眼
r儿
，
shì适
hé合
fàng放
xuān宣
chuán传
hǎi海
bào报
。
That corner location is very conspicuous, perfect for putting up promotional posters.