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微妙 (wēi miào) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

微妙 (wēi miào) is a Chinese word: subtle. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 微妙

形 xíng adjective

subtle

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.

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Word breakdown

微 wēi — minute, tiny, subtle

Words with this character (16)
  • 1 稍微 shāo wēi — slightly HSK 4
    • 稍 slightly, a little
    • 微 tiny, minute (emphasizing minimal degree)
    Example

    这道菜稍微有点咸。

    zhè dào cài shāo wēi yǒu diǎn xián

    This dish is slightly salty.

  • 2 微笑 wēi xiào — smile HSK 5
    • 微 slight, gentle, subtle
    • 笑 smile, laugh
    Example

    她对我微笑。

    tā duì wǒ wēi xiào

    She smiled at me.

  • 3 微小 wēi xiǎo — tiny HSK 6
    • 微 minute, extremely small
    • 小 small, little
    Example

    即使是微小的进步也值得庆祝。

    jí shǐ shì wēi xiǎo de jìn bù yě zhí dé qìng zhù

    Even tiny progress is worth celebrating.

  • 4 卑微 bēi wēi — lowly, humble HSK 7
    • 卑 low, base (in status or position)
    • 微 small, insignificant
    Example

    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.

  • 5 微不足道 wēi bù zú dào — insignificant, negligible, trifling HSK 7
    • 微 tiny, minute, minuscule
    • 不 not, negation marker
    • 足 sufficient, enough, worthy
    • 道 to speak of, to mention, worth talking about
    Example

    相比整个项目的规模，这笔费用微不足道。

    xiāng bǐ zhěng gè xiàng mù de guī mó zhè bǐ fèi yòng wēi bù zú dào

    Compared to the scale of the entire project, this expense is negligible.

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  • 6 微型 wēi xíng — miniature HSK 7
    • 微 micro, tiny, minute
    • 型 type, model, form (indicating category by size)
    Example

    这是一台微型计算机。

    zhè shì yì tái wēi xíng jì suàn jī

    This is a miniature computer.

  • 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.

妙 miào — wonderful, ingenious, delicate

Words with this character (6)
  • 1 巧妙 qiǎo miào — ingenious HSK 6
    • 巧 skillful, clever
    • 妙 wonderful, excellent
    Example

    他想出了一个巧妙的解决方案。

    tā xiǎng chū le yí ge qiǎo miào de jiě jué fāng àn

    He came up with an ingenious solution.

  • 2 不妙 bú miào — not good; bad; unfavorable HSK 7
    • 不 not; negation
    • 妙 good; wonderful (negated to mean 'not good')
    Example

    情况不妙，我们必须马上离开。

    qíng kuàng bú miào wǒ men bì xū mǎ shàng lí kāi

    The situation is bad, we must leave immediately.

  • 3 奇妙 qí miào — wonderful HSK 7
    • 奇 extraordinary, remarkable
    • 妙 excellent, ingenious
    Example

    大自然的力量真是奇妙。

    dà zì rán de lì liang zhēn shì qí miào

    The power of nature is truly wonderful.

  • 4 精妙 jīng miào — exquisite and ingenious HSK 7
    • 精 refined, exquisite, perfect in detail
    • 妙 wonderful, ingenious, cleverly conceived
    Example

    他的解决方案十分精妙，令人赞叹。

    tā de jiě jué fāng àn shí fēn jīng miào lìng rén zàn tàn

    His solution is extremely exquisite and ingenious, truly admirable.

  • 5 美妙 měi miào — wonderful HSK 7
    • 美 beautiful, aesthetic quality
    • 妙 wonderful, excellent, ingenious
    Example

    这首歌的旋律很美妙。

    zhè shǒu gē de xuán lǜ hěn měi miào

    The melody of this song is wonderful.

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Structure & writing
1 微 wēi — tiny; slight

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

consists of

1.1 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
1.2 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
1.3 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
1.4 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

2 妙 miào — beautiful; fine

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

consists of

2.1 女 nǚ — female (opposite of 男)
女 is a component in 54 characters
HSK 1
奶 nǎi breast; mammary gland 她 tā she; her (third-person feminine pronoun) 好 hǎo good; satisfactory (opposite of 坏) 妈 mā mom; mother (reduplicated form) 妹 mèi younger sister (by blood or same generation)
Show more HSK 1 characters (+2)
姐 jiě older sister 要 yào important; significant
HSK 2
妻 qī wife (opposite of 夫) 始 shǐ beginning; start; initial (opposite of '末'/'终') 姓 xìng surname; family name
HSK 3
如 rú to suit; to follow; in accordance with 姨 yí maternal aunt (mother's sister); respectful term for women of one's mother's generation 婚 hūn to marry; for a man and woman to become husband and wife 安 ān safe, secure; opposite of '危' 接 jiē to approach; to come into contact with
HSK 4
姑 gū father's sister; aunt 娘 niáng (colloq.) mother
HSK 5
妇 fù married woman; general term for woman 姥 lǎo maternal grandfather (see 姥爷) 姿 zī appearance; looks 威 wēi authority or power that commands awe and respect 娱 yú joyful; happy
Show more HSK 5 characters (+2)
婆 pó old woman (often reduplicated) 媒 méi matchmaker; person who arranges marriages
HSK 6
妆 zhuāng to put on makeup; to adorn oneself with cosmetics 妙 miào beautiful; fine 妨 fáng to hinder, obstruct (连~碍) 委 wěi winding, tortuous; euphemistic 姻 yīn marriage
Show more HSK 6 characters (+7)
娃 wá child; infant 娶 qǔ to take a wife; to marry (of a man, opposite of 嫁) 婴 yīng infant, newborn baby 媳 xí daughter-in-law, son's wife 嫁 jià (of a woman) to marry, get married (opposite of 娶) 嫌 xián suspicion; grounds for suspicion 宴 yàn to host a banquet; to feast together
HSK 7
奴 nú slave (person oppressed, exploited, and controlled in old society) 奸 jiān hypocritical and cunning 妄 wàng absurd, irrational, wild 妒 dù to envy; to be jealous of someone superior 妖 yāo demon; monster; supernatural creature in myths and legends
Show more HSK 7 characters (+13)
妥 tuǒ appropriate; suitable 姆 mǔ nanny; person hired to care for children, the elderly, or manage household affairs, usually female (see "保姆") 姜 jiāng ginger plant (perennial herb with lance-shaped leaves and yellow-green flowers, rarely blooming) 娇 jiāo delicate, beautiful, and lovely (of women, children, flowers, etc.) 婉 wǎn indirect and gentle in expression 婪 lán greedy; insatiably covetous of wealth 婿 xù husband 媚 mèi beautiful; lovely 嫂 sǎo elder brother's wife; sister-in-law 嫉 jí to envy; to be jealous of someone better than oneself 嫩 nèn tender, delicate (of young growth); opposite of "老" 嬉 xī (lit.) to play; to frolic 耍 shuǎ to play; to have fun
2.2 少 shǎo — few; little (opposite of 多)
Xpinyin
少 is a component in 11 characters
HSK 3
沙 shā sand; tiny stone particles
HSK 4
省 shěng to save; to economize (opposite of 费) 秒 miǎo awn on grain husks
HSK 5
吵 chǎo noisy and chaotic; disturbing 炒 chǎo to stir-fry (cook by stirring ingredients in hot oil in a wok)
HSK 6
劣 liè inferior, bad (opposite of 优) 妙 miào beautiful; fine 抄 chāo to copy (text); to transcribe
HSK 7
渺 miǎo vast and boundless (of water) 纱 shā yarn spun from cotton, hemp, etc., used to twist into thread or weave into cloth 钞 chāo banknote, paper currency

Stroke order