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卑微 (bēi wēi) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

卑微 (bēi wēi) is a Chinese word: lowly, humble. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 卑微

形 xíng adjective

lowly, humble

她出身卑微，但努力改变了命运。

tā chū shēn bēi wēi dàn nǔ lì gǎi biàn le mìng yùn

She came from humble origins, but worked hard to change her fate.

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Word breakdown

卑 bēi — low, base (in status or position)

Words with this character (2)

微 wēi — small, insignificant

Words with this character (16)
Show more (+11)
  • 6 微妙 wēi miào — subtle HSK 7
    • 微 minute, tiny, subtle
    • 妙 wonderful, ingenious, delicate
    Example

    他们之间的关系很微妙。

    tā men zhī jiān de guān xì hěn wēi miào

    The relationship between them is very subtle.

  • 7 微弱 wēi ruò — faint, weak HSK 7
    • 微 minute, slight, minimal degree
    • 弱 weak, lacking strength
    Example

    病人的呼吸变得越来越微弱。

    bìng rén de hū xī biàn de yuè lái yuè wēi ruò

    The patient's breathing became weaker and weaker.

  • 8 微微 wēi wēi — slightly HSK 7
    • 微 slight, tiny (first instance of reduplication)
    • 微 slight, tiny (repeated for emphasis and adverbial effect)
    Example

    她微微一笑，没有说话。

    tā wēi wēi yī xiào méi yǒu shuō huà

    She smiled slightly and said nothing.

  • 9 微波炉 wēi bō lú — microwave oven HSK 7
    • 微 micro, tiny (referring to microscopic electromagnetic waves)
    • 波 wave (electromagnetic waves used for heating)
    • 炉 oven, stove (a heating appliance)
    Example

    我用微波炉加热午餐。

    wǒ yòng wēi bō lú jiā rè wǔ cān

    I use the microwave oven to heat up lunch.

  • 10 微生物 wēi shēng wù — microorganism HSK 7
    • 微 tiny, minute, micro-
    • 生 life, living
    • 物 thing, organism, matter
    Example

    科学家正在研究海洋中的微生物。

    kē xué jiā zhèng zài yán jiū hǎi yáng zhōng de wēi shēng wù

    Scientists are studying microorganisms in the ocean.

  • 11 微观 wēi guān — microscopic HSK 7
    • 微 micro, minute, tiny - indicates small scale
    • 观 observe, view, perspective - indicates observation or viewpoint
    Example

    我们需要从微观角度分析这个问题。

    wǒ men xū yào cóng wēi guān jiǎo dù fēn xī zhè ge wèn tí

    We need to analyze this problem from a microscopic perspective.

  • 12 无微不至 wú wēi bù zhì — extremely attentive and considerate; meticulous in every detail HSK 7
    • 无 no, without; negates the phrase that follows
    • 微 tiny, minute; refers to the smallest details
    • 不 not; negative particle
    • 至 reach, arrive at; indicates that attention extends to all details
    Example

    母亲对孩子的照顾总是无微不至。

    mǔ qīn duì hái zi de zhào gu zǒng shì wú wēi bù zhì

    A mother's care for her children is always meticulous in every detail.

  • 13 显微镜 xiǎn wēi jìng — microscope HSK 7
    • 显 to reveal, to make visible
    • 微 microscopic, tiny, minute
    • 镜 lens, optical instrument
    Example

    我们用显微镜观察细胞。

    wǒ men yòng xiǎn wēi jìng guān chá xì bāo

    We use a microscope to observe cells.

  • 14 略微 lüè wēi — slightly HSK 7
    • 略 roughly, approximately (indicating a small degree)
    • 微 tiny, minute (emphasizing the smallness)
    Example

    天气略微有点冷。

    tiān qì lüè wēi yǒu diǎn lěng

    The weather is slightly cold.

  • 15 细微 xì wēi — minute, subtle, tiny HSK 7
    • 细 fine, detailed, small in scale
    • 微 tiny, minute, slight
    Example

    这些细微的变化很难被察觉。

    zhè xiē xì wēi de biàn huà hěn nán bèi chá jué

    These minute changes are difficult to detect.

  • 16 轻微 qīng wēi — slight HSK 7
    • 轻 light, not heavy; contributes the sense of 'minor' or 'not serious'
    • 微 tiny, minute; contributes the sense of 'minimal' or 'barely noticeable'
    Example

    他只是轻微感冒，休息一下就好了。

    tā zhǐ shì qīng wēi gǎn mào xiū xi yī xià jiù hǎo le

    He just has a slight cold, he'll be fine after some rest.

Structure & writing
1 卑 bēi — low; lowly
卑 is a component in 4 characters
HSK 3
啤 pí beer (low-alcohol drink brewed from barley and hops, with foam and a slightly bitter taste)
HSK 4
牌 pái a sign or token made of wood or other material 脾 pí spleen (internal organ)
HSK 7
碑 bēi stone stele inscribed with text, erected to commemorate an event, achievement, or as a marker

consists of

1.1 白 bái — white (color like snow or milk, opposite of black)
白 is a component in 19 characters
HSK 1
百 bǎi hundred (the number 100) 的 de structural particle used after an attributive: ① general modifier before a noun ② possessive modifier ③ attributive is a person's name or pronoun, head noun is a role or identity ④ head noun combines with a preceding verb to express an action, attributive is the object of that action
HSK 3
怕 pà to fear; to be afraid of 拍 pāi to slap or pat with the palm or a flat object 泉 quán spring water
HSK 4
貌 mào appearance, looks
HSK 6
皇 huáng monarch; emperor 迫 pò to compel; to force
HSK 7
伯 bó uncle (father's elder brother) 卑 bēi low; lowly 帕 pà small square cloth for wiping hands or face; handkerchief 柏 bǎi cypress tree, an evergreen with scale-like leaves and cone fruits; hard wood used as building material 泊 bó to moor a boat; to dock
Show more HSK 7 characters (+6)
皂 zào black (color) 皆 jiē all; everyone 碧 bì (lit.) blue-green jade 粕 pò dregs left over from brewing wine 舶 bó large oceangoing vessel 魄 pò the corporeal soul (in superstition, the spirit attached to the body)
1.2 十 shí — ten (the number 9+1)
十 is a component in 29 characters
HSK 1
什 shén see "什么": ① interrogative pronoun; ② indefinite reference; ③ universal reference (used before 也/都); ④ surprise or dissatisfaction; ⑤ reproach; ⑥ disagreement; ⑦ non-exhaustive enumeration 卖 mài to sell; to exchange goods, skills, or labor for money (opposite of 买) 早 zǎo morning
HSK 2
妻 qī wife (opposite of 夫)
HSK 3
南 nán south (one of the four cardinal directions, opposite of north) 直 zhí straight; not curved (opposite of 曲)
HSK 4
克 kè to be able to; can 博 bó abundant; plentiful 叶 yè leaf (of a plant) 戴 dài to wear or put on (something on the head or body) 支 zhī to prop up; to support
Show more HSK 4 characters (+7)
毕 bì to finish, to conclude 汁 zhī juice; liquid containing certain substances 章 zhāng a section or chapter of music, poetry, or prose 计 jì to calculate; to reckon 质 zhì fundamental nature of a thing 辛 xīn pungent; spicy 针 zhēn needle or pin (slender metal tool with a point and eye or hook, used for sewing or knitting)
HSK 5
华 huá referring to China 协 xié harmonious; in accord 古 gǔ ancient; of a bygone era, opposite of 'present' 盾 dùn shield (ancient protective weapon used in battle) 索 suǒ thick rope or chain
Show more HSK 5 characters (+1)
裁 cái to arrange and select (mostly used in literary arts)
HSK 6
德 dé morality; ethical standards and norms of conduct 截 jié to cut off; to sever (something long and slender)
HSK 7
卉 huì general term for various plants (esp. ornamental grasses and flowers) 卑 bēi low; lowly 嚏 tì (lit.) to sneeze

Stroke order

2 微 wēi — tiny; slight

微 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

2.1 彳 chì — step/walk radical, representing slow or hesitant walking
彳 is a component in 20 characters
HSK 1
很 hěn very; quite 得 dé to get; to obtain (opposite of 失)
HSK 3
行 xíng to walk; to go
HSK 4
待 dài to wait; to await 律 lǜ law; rule 微 wēi tiny; slight
HSK 5
彻 chè to penetrate, to pass through 彼 bǐ that; that one (opposite of 此) 征 zhēng to travel a long distance (often of troops on campaign)
HSK 6
径 jìng narrow path; footpath 徒 tú to go on foot (without vehicle or horse) 循 xún to follow; to comply with; to adhere to 德 dé morality; ethical standards and norms of conduct
HSK 7
役 yì labor service; corvée 徊 huái see 徘徊: ①pace back and forth; ②hesitate, be irresolute; ③fluctuate within a range 徐 xú (lit.) slowly; gently 徘 pái used in 徘徊: ① pace back and forth; ② hesitate, be undecided; ③ fluctuate within a range 徙 xǐ to migrate; to move (residence)
Show more HSK 7 characters (+2)
御 yù to drive or control (a carriage or horse) 徽 huī emblem; badge; insignia
2.2 山 shān — mountain; hill
山 is a component in 33 characters
HSK 1
岁 suì year
HSK 4
密 mì dense; closely spaced (opposite of sparse) 幽 yōu (lit.) deep and secluded; (of a place) remote, quiet, and dimly lit 微 wēi tiny; slight
HSK 6
岗 gǎng raised mound or slope of earth 岛 dǎo island (land surrounded by water on all sides); peninsula (land surrounded by water on three sides) 岸 àn shore; bank; coast (of a river, lake, sea, etc.) 峰 fēng high, pointed mountain peak 崇 chóng tall; lofty
Show more HSK 6 characters (+1)
崭 zhǎn (lit.) towering; standing out above the rest
HSK 7
仙 xiān immortal; a person with supernatural abilities in mythology 屹 yì (lit.) towering and firm, immovable 屿 yǔ small island 岂 qǐ rhetorical question marker, equivalent to 'how could' or 'is it possible that' 岔 chà branch (of a mountain range, river, road, etc.)
Show more HSK 7 characters (+18)
岖 qū used in '崎岖': ① (of mountain paths) rugged and uneven; ② (fig.) full of hardships and twists 岩 yán steep cliff 岭 lǐng mountain with a path over its summit 岳 yuè a tall, majestic mountain 峙 zhì (lit.) to stand tall; to stand erect 峡 xiá gorge; narrow waterway between two mountains (often used in place names) 峭 qiào steep and tall (of a mountain) 峻 jùn high and steep (of a mountain) 崎 qí (lit.) steep and uneven; rugged 崖 yá steep face of a cliff or rocky height 崛 jué (lit.) to rise up; to emerge powerfully 崩 bēng to collapse; to crumble 嵌 qiàn to inlay; to embed a smaller piece into a recess of a larger object (often decorative) 巅 diān mountain peak; summit 徽 huī emblem; badge; insignia 灿 càn bright; radiant; dazzling 炭 tàn charcoal, a fuel made by heating wood while cut off from air 癌 ái cancer; malignant tumor formed by abnormally proliferating cells
2.3 兀 wù — towering and prominent
兀 is a component in 4 characters
HSK 1
元 yuán the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368), founded by Kublai Khan 西 xī west (one of the four cardinal directions, the side where the sun sets; opposite of '东')
HSK 4
光 guāng light (visible or invisible radiation such as sunlight, lamplight, moonlight, infrared or ultraviolet rays); also called 光波 or 光线 微 wēi tiny; slight
2.4 攵 pū — light strike/tap radical
攵 is a component in 28 characters
HSK 2
教 jiào to teach; to educate
HSK 3
收 shōu bring in; gather together 放 fàng to release; to set free 故 gù reason; cause 数 shù number; quantity
HSK 4
微 wēi tiny; slight 改 gǎi to revise; to modify 效 xiào effect, function, result 败 bài to lose (a war or competition, opposite of 胜)
HSK 5
政 zhèng politics; affairs of state 敌 dí hostile; antagonistic 敏 mǐn intelligent, quick-witted, agile 救 jiù to help someone out of difficulty, danger, or disaster 敬 jìng to respect, to treat with courtesy
Show more HSK 5 characters (+2)
玫 méi (lit.) a type of beautiful stone or jade 致 zhì to give; to express (courtesy, goodwill, etc.) to someone
HSK 6
撤 chè to remove; to cancel 攻 gōng to attack, assault; opposite of 'defend'
HSK 7
徽 huī emblem; badge; insignia 敛 liǎn (lit.) to draw in; to hold back 敞 chǎng (of buildings, courtyards, etc.) spacious and open; unobstructed 敦 dūn to urge; to encourage 敷 fū to apply (ointment, powder, etc.)
Show more HSK 7 characters (+5)
枚 méi a counter for small objects (similar to 个), one by one 澈 chè clear and transparent (of water) 牧 mù to herd (livestock or poultry) outdoors to graze or roam 肇 zhào (class.) to begin; to start 辙 zhé rut; track left by a wheel

Stroke order