Hanzi Now
CharactersIdiomsChinese NameFlashcards
Tools

Visual content

  • Chinese Text Image GeneratorCreate PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes
  • Stroke Order AnimatorTurn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
  • Character Highlight AnimatorChoose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
  • Chinese Text Morph AnimatorTurn one Chinese character, word or phrase into another; download SVG, MP4 or WebM

Audio content

  • Chinese Text to SpeechRead Chinese aloud with karaoke highlighting

Teaching materials

  • Writing WorksheetsPrintable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
  • Bingo CardsPicture and word Bingo for your class
  • Picture WorksheetsChinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets

Other

  • Pinyin GeneratorConvert Chinese text to pinyin with tone marks
  • Chinese Zodiac CalculatorFind your animal sign from your birth date and make a zodiac card.
  • Chinese Word CounterCount characters, words and sentences in Chinese text
View all tools →
眼中之钉
眼中之钉
眼中之钉
眼中之钉
眼中之钉
眼中之钉
眼中之钉
眼中之钉

眼中之钉 — “A person who is an object of intense dislike or hatred”

眼中之钉 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “a person who is an object of intense dislike or hatred”. Someone who is a constant annoyance or source of extreme irritation. Literally, “Thorn in one's eye”.

Frequency

眼中之钉 Pronunciation and Pinyin

眼中之钉 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order
CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
眼
yǎn11eye, insight, hole, crucial point
中
zhōng4middle, in, China, hit, win
之
zhī4possessive or connective particle
钉
dīng7nail, fasten, follow closely

Example Sentence with 眼中之钉

他那个经常挑拨离间、散布谣言的同事,成了大家眼中之钉。
That colleague of his, who often sowed discord and spread rumors, became a thorn in everyone's side.

Origin and Story of 眼中之钉

During the Five Dynasties period, in the Later Tang Dynasty, Zhao Zaili, a commander of the Xiaojie army, rebelled against Emperor Zhuangzong and supported Emperor Mingzong, who then appointed him as the military governor of Yicheng Prefecture.

Zhao Zaili abused his power, oppressed the common people, and frequently extorted wealth from them.

When he led his army to attack the Khitan, who were considered a "thorn in people's eyes" at the time, he ordered the residents of Songzhou to each pay 1000 cash as a "nail-removal fee," threatening death to anyone who failed to comply.

Idioms Related to 眼中之钉

Synonyms of 眼中之钉

  • yǎn眼zhōng中dīng钉a hated person or thing

More idioms starting with 眼

  • yǎn眼bù不jiāo交jié睫sleepless with anxiety
  • yǎn眼bù不huí回jīng睛to gaze intently, completely absorbed
  • yǎn眼bù不zhù著shā砂Cannot tolerate any wrongdoing
  • yǎn眼bù不jiàn见wéi为jìng净Out of sight, out of mind
  • yǎn眼bù不jiàn见,,xīn心bù不fán烦Out of sight, out of mind
  • yǎn眼bù不shí识dīng丁completely illiterate
  • yǎn眼bù不zhuàn转jīng睛gaze fixedly without blinking
  • yǎn眼zhōng中cì刺a thorn in one's eye
  • yǎn眼zhōng中bá拔dīng钉remove a hated person or nuisance
  • yǎn眼zhōng中yǒu有tiě铁resolute and disciplined look
  • yǎn眼zhōng中dīng疔,,ròu肉zhōng中cì刺a thorn in the flesh

Recommended tools

Bingo Cards

Picture and word Bingo for your class

Open the tool →

Stroke Order Animator

Turn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4

Open the tool →

Character Highlight Animator

Choose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order

Open the tool →

Chinese Text Image Generator

Create PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes

Open the tool →

Questions about 眼中之钉

What does 眼中之钉 mean?

眼中之钉 (yǎn zhōng zhī dīng) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “a person who is an object of intense dislike or hatred”.

How do you pronounce 眼中之钉?

眼中之钉 is pronounced yǎn zhōng zhī dīng in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 眼中之钉 literally mean?

Literally, 眼中之钉 means “Thorn in one's eye”. It is used to mean “a person who is an object of intense dislike or hatred”.

Where does 眼中之钉 come from?

眼中之钉 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.

What is the Chinese definition of 眼中之钉?

比喻极其厌恶憎恨的人

Hanzi Now

Explore the charm of Chinese language

Explore

  • Characters
  • Idioms
  • Chinese Names
  • Flashcards

Tools

  • Chinese Text Image Generator
  • Stroke Order Animator
  • Character Highlight Animator
  • Bingo Cards
  • Picture Worksheets
  • All Tools

More

  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
© 2026 Hanzi NowContact Us