Translingual

Han character

囧 (radical 31 囗+4, 7 strokes, cangjie input 田金月 (WCB), four-corner 6022₇)

Descendants

• 朙, 莔, 𥁰

References

• KangXi: page 217, character 10
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 4707
• Dae Jaweon: page 444, character 13
• Hanyu Da Zidian: volume 1, page 715, character 12
• Unihan data for U+56E7

Chinese

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 囧
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Large seal script	Small seal script

Pictogram (象形) , resembling a window.

Etymology

The slang sense is an emoticon used to express helplessness or awkwardness, usually in a humorous way. This usage gained popularity on Taiwanese forums (aka "BBS"), then spread through the media to Hong Kong, and eventually to Mainland China. Its meaning was influenced by the character 窘 (jiǒng, “hard-pressed; embarrassed”) (homophonic in Mandarin).

Pronunciation

Definitions

囧

1. ^†patterned window; a clear and bright window; shining, brightness
   • 囧，窗牖麗廔闓明，象形。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     囧，窗牖丽廔闿明，象形。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
     From: Shuowen Jiezi, circa 2nd century CE

     Jiǒng, chuāngyǒu lìlóu kǎimíng, xiàngxíng. [Pinyin]

     Jiong — An open and light window. Pictographic.

   • 囧囧秋月明，憑軒詠堯老。 [MSC, trad.]
     囧囧秋月明，凭轩咏尧老。 [MSC, simp.]
     From: Jiang Yan, "Miscellaneous Poems — Imitation of Zhang Chuo's 'Miscellaneous Writing'", from the anthology of Wen Xuan

     Jiǒng jiǒng qiū yuè míng, píng xuān yǒng Yáo Lǎo. [Pinyin]

     The moonlight at an autumn night was brightly clean; I leaned on the railing, chanting poems and savouring the logics of the ancient sages (lit. of Yao and Laozi).

2. (neologism, slang, humorous) an emoticon expressing surprise, shock, embarrassment, helplessness or awkwardness
   • 而那些生活在光環中的明星和名人們，曾經也有過類似的經歷，他們難忘的往事中也不乏趣聞和囧事……李想在高三時選擇放棄高考，卻成功創業，身價上億。 [MSC, trad.]
     而那些生活在光环中的明星和名人们，曾经也有过类似的经历，他们难忘的往事中也不乏趣闻和囧事……李想在高三时选择放弃高考，却成功创业，身价上亿。 [MSC, simp.]
     From: Xinhua, 《眾名人爆料高考囧事》 ("Celebrities reveal their embarrassing moments before/at the University Entrance Examination")

     Ér nàxiē shēnghuó zài guānghuán zhōng de míngxīng hé míngrén men, céngjīng yě yǒu guò lèisì de jīnglì, tāmen nánwàng de wǎngshì zhōng yě bùfá qùwén hé jiǒng shì...... Lǐ Xiǎng zài gāosān shí xuǎnzé fàngqì gāokǎo, què chénggōng chuàngyè, shēnjià shàng yì. [Pinyin]

     The celebrities and notabilities now living under spotlights used to have similar experiences; there was no lack of amusing anecdotes and embarrassing moments in their unforgettable pasts ... Li Xiang dropped out of school during the third year of high school, choosing not to take the University Entrance Examination. Instead, he successfully started an enterprise, now worth hundreds of millions.

Synonyms

• Orz
• 囧rz
• 囧rz=3

Compounds

Descendants

Japanese

Kanji

(uncommon “Hyōgai” kanji)

1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

Readings

• On: けい (kei), きょう (kyō)
• Kun: あきらか (akiraka)

Korean

Hanja

囧 • ‎(gyeong) (hangeul 경, revised gyeong, McCune-Reischauer kyŏng)

1. (빛나다) bright
2. (밝다) clear
3. (새가 나는 모양) the appearance of birds flying
4. (창) window