TSUMUGU · B2 (est.) · 字
瞪
ㄉㄥˋ · dèng
verb — to stare, glare (eyes wide)
字源 FORM — what the parts do
Tdēng → dèng — same syllable, tone drops to fourth
The eye (目) held wide and fixed — to stare, to glare. 登 dēng carries the sound, tone fallen to dèng. 瞪眼、目瞪口呆 are all the fixed, widened look.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
他眼睛（目）瞪得溜圓，一眨不眨，直直盯著對方。
His eyes (目) go round and fixed, not a blink — locked on the other.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)瞪眼、瞪視— to stare, glare常用
→目瞪口呆— dumbstruck, agape常用
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
瞠chēngthe lookalike — same eye , but 瞠 takes 堂, 瞪 takes 睜＝ ＋ 爭zhēngthe partner sense — to open the eyes, 瞪 holds them wide and fixed