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

山顶云雾缥缈。

Shāndǐng yúnwù piāomiǎo.

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

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