‘目不转睛’ literally means ‘eyes do not turn (away) from the pupil’—a vivid classical idiom describing intense, unwavering focus. Each character contributes: 目 (eye), 不 (not), 转 (to turn or shift), and 睛 (the pupil or eye itself, used here to emphasize the visual organ). Together, they evoke the image of someone so absorbed that their gaze remains fixed without blinking or wandering.

This phrase is commonly used as an adverb to modify verbs like 看 (to watch), 听 (to listen), or 凝视 (to gaze), especially when describing deep concentration, fascination, or awe. It appears frequently in narrative writing, storytelling, and descriptive speech—often with positive or neutral connotations, though context can imply obsession or distraction. While it’s a four-character idiom (chéngyǔ), it functions grammatically like an adverbial phrase rather than a noun, and is rarely used in formal academic or technical registers.