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Word

缩影 (suō yǐng) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

缩影 (suō yǐng) is a Chinese word: microcosm. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 缩影

名 míng noun

microcosm

这个小镇是现代中国的缩影。

zhè ge xiǎo zhèn shì xiàn dài zhōng guó de suō yǐng

This small town is a microcosm of modern China.

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Word breakdown

缩 suō — reduced, condensed

Words with this character (13)
Show more (+8)

影 yǐng — image, representation

Words with this character (14)
  • 1 电影 diàn yǐng — movie HSK 1
    • 电 electric, electricity (representing the technological medium)
    • 影 image, shadow (representing the projected pictures)
    Example

    我喜欢看电影。

    wǒ xǐ huan kàn diàn yǐng

    I like watching movies.

  • 2 电影院 diàn yǐng yuàn — cinema HSK 1
    • 电 electric (part of 'electric shadow', an old term for film)
    • 影 shadow/image (combines with 电 to mean 'film/movie')
    • 院 building/hall/venue (indicates the physical place)
    Example

    我们周末去电影院看电影。

    wǒ men zhōu mò qù diàn yǐng yuàn kàn diàn yǐng

    We go to the cinema on weekends to watch movies.

  • 3 影响 yǐng xiǎng — to influence HSK 3
    • 影 shadow, trace, indirect presence
    • 响 sound, echo, reverberation, effect
    Example

    天气会影响我们的心情。

    tiān qì huì yǐng xiǎng wǒ men de xīn qíng

    Weather can influence our mood.

  • 4 合影 hé yǐng — take a group photo HSK 5
    • 合 together, join
    • 影 photo, image
    Example

    大家一起合影吧！

    dà jiā yì qǐ hé yǐng ba

    Let's all take a group photo together!

  • 5 影片 yǐng piàn — film HSK 5
    • 影 image, visual picture
    • 片 piece, segment of recorded media
    Example

    这部影片获得了很多奖项。

    zhè bù yǐng piàn huò dé le hěn duō jiǎng xiàng

    This film won many awards.

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  • 6 影视 yǐng shì — film and television HSK 5
    • 影 film, cinema (from 电影)
    • 视 television (from 电视)
    Example

    他在影视行业工作了十年。

    tā zài yǐng shì háng yè gōng zuò le shí nián

    He has worked in the film and television industry for ten years.

  • 7 摄影 shè yǐng — photography; to photograph HSK 5
    • 摄 to capture, to take
    • 影 image, shadow, picture
    Example

    他在公园里摄影。

    tā zài gōng yuán lǐ shè yǐng

    He is taking photos in the park.

  • 8 影子 yǐng zi — shadow HSK 6
    • 影 shadow, image (provides the core meaning)
    • 子 nominal suffix (makes it a concrete noun)
    Example

    树的影子很长。

    shù de yǐng zi hěn cháng

    The tree's shadow is very long.

  • 9 幻影 huàn yǐng — phantom HSK 7
    • 幻 illusion, unreal, imaginary
    • 影 shadow, image, form
    Example

    夜晚的街道上出现了一个神秘的幻影。

    yè wǎn de jiē dào shàng chū xiàn le yí gè shén mì de huàn yǐng

    A mysterious phantom appeared on the street at night.

  • 10 形影不离 xíng yǐng bù lí — inseparable HSK 7
    • 形 body, physical form
    • 影 shadow
    • 不 not
    • 离 separate, leave
    Example

    他们两个从小就形影不离。

    tā men liǎng gè cóng xiǎo jiù xíng yǐng bù lí

    The two of them have been inseparable since childhood.

  • 11 影像 yǐng xiàng — image HSK 7
    • 影 shadow, visual projection
    • 像 likeness, representation
    Example

    医生正在查看患者的影像资料。

    yī shēng zhèng zài chá kàn huàn zhě de yǐng xiàng zī liào

    The doctor is reviewing the patient's imaging data.

  • 12 背影 bèi yǐng — back view HSK 7
    • 背 back (of the body)
    • 影 figure, silhouette, image
    Example

    我看着父亲的背影渐渐消失。

    wǒ kàn zhe fù qin de bèi yǐng jiàn jiàn xiāo shī

    I watched my father's back view gradually disappear.

  • 13 身影 shēn yǐng — figure, silhouette HSK 7
    • 身 body, physical form
    • 影 shadow, image, reflection
    Example

    她的身影一直留在我的记忆中。

    tā de shēn yǐng yī zhí liú zài wǒ de jì yì zhōng

    Her figure has always remained in my memory.

  • 14 阴影 yīn yǐng — shadow HSK 7
    • 阴 dark, gloomy, shaded
    • 影 shadow, image, trace
    Example

    那件事给他留下了心理阴影。

    nà jiàn shì gěi tā liú xià le xīn lǐ yīn yǐng

    That incident left him with psychological trauma.

Structure & writing
1 缩 suō — to shrink; to become smaller, shorter, or fewer

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

consists of

1.1 纟 sī — silk/thread radical
纟 is a component in 67 characters
HSK 1
给 gěi to give; to hand over to someone
HSK 2
红 hóng red (color like fresh blood) 绍 shào to continue, to carry on 绿 lǜ green (color, like flourishing grass and leaves, mixed from blue and yellow)
HSK 3
级 jí rank; grade; level 纸 zhǐ paper, usually made from plant fibers 练 liàn (lit.) white processed silk 终 zhōng end result; conclusion (opposite of 始) 结 jié to tie a knot in rope, thread, or strip of cloth; to weave by knotting
Show more HSK 3 characters (+1)
绩 jì to twist hemp fibers into thread
HSK 4
约 yuē to propose or discuss (something mutually binding) 纪 jì rules; regulations; discipline 线 xiàn thread; yarn made of silk, cotton, hemp, etc., used for sewing or knitting 组 zǔ to combine, to form 细 xì thin (of a rod-like object, opposite of 粗)
Show more HSK 4 characters (+2)
绝 jué to sever; to cut off 续 xù to connect; to continue
HSK 5
纷 fēn numerous and disorderly 织 zhī to weave (cloth or garments from silk, hemp, cotton, wool, etc.) 绕 rào to wind around; to coil around 络 luò something resembling a net 统 tǒng in total; all together; entirely
Show more HSK 5 characters (+5)
绪 xù the beginning or starting point of something (originally the end of a silk thread) 维 wéi to connect; to tie 综 zōng to summarize; to bring together 缓 huǎn slow; unhurried (opposite of 急) 缩 suō to shrink; to become smaller, shorter, or fewer
HSK 6
纠 jiū to entangle; to twist around 纯 chún pure; free from impurities 纳 nà to take in; to bring in 绒 róng soft, fine hair or down 绘 huì to draw or paint (a picture)
Show more HSK 6 characters (+1)
编 biān to weave or braid (with strips or strands)
HSK 7
纤 xiān slender; delicate; fine 纬 wěi weft; horizontal threads in woven fabric (opposite of 经) 纱 shā yarn spun from cotton, hemp, etc., used to twist into thread or weave into cloth 纲 gāng the main rope of a fishing net; the key or essential part of something (often referring to documents or speeches) 纵 zòng north-south in direction (opposite of '横')
Show more HSK 7 characters (+29)
纹 wén pattern or design on silk fabric; decorative pattern or texture in general 纺 fǎng to spin (cotton, hemp, silk, wool, etc. into yarn or thread) 纽 niǔ handle or loop on an object for lifting or hanging 绅 shēn wide sash worn over the outer garment by ancient scholar-officials 绊 bàn to trip or entangle, impeding movement; to tie someone down so they cannot get away 绑 bǎng to tie up; to bind with rope or cord 绞 jiǎo to twist two or more strands together; to entangle 绣 xiù to embroider (patterns or characters onto fabric using colored thread) 绯 fēi crimson; scarlet 绰 chuò (lit.) ample; spacious; having plenty to spare 绳 shéng rope; cord (twisted from two or more strands of cotton, hemp, palm fibre, grass, etc.) 绵 mián silk floss; raw silk wadding used for padding clothing and quilts 绷 bēng to pull taut; to stretch tight 绸 chóu silk fabric; thin and soft silk textile 绽 zhàn to split open; to burst 缀 zhuì to sew together; to stitch 缅 miǎn distant; far away 缆 lǎn thick rope or iron chain for mooring a ship; heavy cable made of twisted strands 缉 jī to search for; to pursue and arrest 缔 dì to conclude; to establish (a treaty or agreement) 缕 lǚ thread; strand 缘 yuán reason; cause 缚 fù to bind; to tie up 缝 féng to sew; to stitch together with needle and thread 缠 chán to wind around, to wrap around 缤 bīn abundant and varied (as in "缤纷") 缴 jiǎo to hand in or pay (especially when fulfilling an obligation or under compulsion) 蕴 yùn (lit.) to contain; to accumulate 辫 biàn braid; plait of hair woven from divided strands
1.2 宿 sù — to lodge; to spend the night; to sleep overnight
宿 is a component in 1 characters
HSK 5
缩 suō to shrink; to become smaller, shorter, or fewer

Stroke order

2 影 yǐng — shadow; silhouette formed when an object blocks light; vague image or impression

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

consists of

2.1 景 jǐng — situation; circumstance
景 is a component in 2 characters
HSK 1
影 yǐng shadow; silhouette formed when an object blocks light; vague image or impression
HSK 7
憬 jǐng (lit.) to awaken; to become aware
2.2 彡 shān — stripes, markings, decorative pattern
彡 is a component in 11 characters
HSK 1
影 yǐng shadow; silhouette formed when an object blocks light; vague image or impression
HSK 2
颜 yán facial expression; countenance
HSK 3
参 cān to join; to participate (in an activity) 衫 shān upper garment, unlined jacket 须 xū must; necessary (auxiliary verb)
HSK 4
修 xiū to decorate and tidy up, making neat and attractive 彩 cǎi various colors; color
HSK 5
形 xíng appearance; shape 珍 zhēn treasure; precious thing
HSK 7
彬 bīn refined and cultured (see "彬彬") 彰 zhāng obvious; prominent

Stroke order