mǐn
adjective #8,207

Meanings

  1. 1 quick
  2. 2 nimble
  3. 3 sharp

Examples

HSK 6
Zōngjiào zài hěnduō guójiā shì mǐngǎn huàtí.
Religion is a sensitive topic in many countries.
HSK 7-9
Tā de gǎnjué hěn língmǐn, néng tīngdào biéren tīng bùdào de shēngyīn.
Her senses are very sharp - she can hear sounds others miss.
HSK 7-9
Tā duì hǎixiān guòmǐn, suǒyǐ cóngbù chī xiā.
He's allergic to seafood, so he never eats shrimp.

Tips

memory
(every) + (action) - quick in every action.

Components

radical
tap; strike (radical form)
Right rap radical (abbreviated ) - a hand holding a stick. In it implies prompt response to a tap, giving the sense of being quick and nimble. Same radical anchors action verbs like (teach), (govern), (rescue), (change) - all involving directed striking or active intervention.
phonetic
měi
every; mother-figure
Left supplies the sound - měi shifting to mǐn with rime change. Originally depicted a mother with hairpins (a senior woman). Pair it with the tapping radical on the right and the picture is of a quick, alert woman responding to a stick-tap. Same phonetic family: sea, plum, regret.

Stroke Order

mǐn