盲 (blindness)

It means “blind,” with figurative senses in compounds. 盲 names blindness in Chinese. In compounds, 盲人 means “blind person,” 盲目 means acting “blindly” or without judgment, 盲从 means following without thought, and 文盲 means “illiterate.” The meaning extends from loss of sight to lack of knowledge or discernment.

The Shuowen Jiezi, an early Chinese dictionary from the 2nd century CE, glosses 盲 as “eyes without pupils.” Its analysis treats 目 (“eye”) as the meaning-bearing part and 亡 as the sound-bearing part. Later compounds extend blindness to ignorance, illiteracy, and unthinking action.

What does 盲 mean when someone sends it?

The word around it tells you whether the sense is literal or figurative.

A message containing 盲人 refers to a blind person; 盲目 and 盲从 describe decisions or actions without enough judgment, while 文盲 points to illiteracy. A lone 盲 carries the idea of blindness but does not show whether the use is literal or figurative, so read the surrounding phrase before taking it as a personal remark.

Can I use 盲 for a blind person?

Use 盲人 as the complete person-word.

In present-day Chinese, 盲人 is a neutral way to say “blind person.” 瞎子 is a separate colloquial term that can sound pejorative. Use 盲人 when blindness is the subject; avoid turning it into a joke.