缈 (miǎo): (in 缥缈) dim and indistinct; fai…

Meanings

1 (in 缥缈) dim and indistinct; faint

Characters

缈

miǎo

(in 缥缈) faint; indistinct

Examples

HSK 7-9

山顶云雾缥缈。

Shāndǐng yúnwù piāomiǎo.

Clouds and mist drifted, hazy and indistinct around the peak.

HSK 7-9

传说中的仙境虚无缥缈。

Chuánshuō zhōng de xiānjìng xūwú piāomiǎo.

The fairyland in the legend is faint and out of reach.

Tips

usage

Only used in 缥缈 (also written 缥渺) - dim, faint, barely there. The character never stands alone.

Components

radical

纟 sī

silk thread

Left 纟 is the silk radical 糸 in left-side form. Paired with 缥 (also silk-radical), it evokes gauzy, wispy thinness - hence 'faint and indistinct'.

phonetic

眇 miǎo

tiny; phonetic

Right 眇 supplies the sound exactly (miǎo = miǎo) and a fitting flavor of 'tiny, barely perceptible'. The same phonetic core anchors 渺 (vast; vague) and 秒 (second of time).

Stroke Order

缈 miǎo

Related Words

虚无缥缈 xūwú-piāomiǎo

illusory and intangible / vague and elusive / shadowy and unreal

缥缈 piāomiǎo #27,825

faintly discernible; misty and indistinct / ethereal; illusory; dreamlike

暧暧远人村 ài ài yuǎn rén cūn

dim and faint, the distant villages of men / (fig.) the hazy, half-visible houses in the far distance of a peaceful pastoral scene / (lit.) dim-dim far human village

昏 hūn HSK 6 #4,132

dizzy; muddled; confused / to faint; to lose consciousness / dusk; twilight; dim

模糊 móhu HSK 5 #5,670

vague; indistinct; fuzzy; blurry / to blur; to obscure

冥 míng #7,060

dark; dim / the underworld; the netherworld / deep; profound

点心 diǎnxin HSK 7-9 #4,821

dim sum / pastry / light refreshment / snack

昏迷 hūnmí HSK 7-9 #3,045

to be in a coma / to be unconscious / to faint

暗 àn HSK 4 #2,652

dark; dim / secret; hidden; covert

晕 yūn HSK 6 #2,461

dizzy; giddy; lightheaded / to faint; to pass out; to lose consciousness / confused; bewildered