Meanings of 喵
By ear
Play it, then pick what 喵 means.
About 喵
Podcast: 喵
Podcast: 喵
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 喵
While '喵' is informal and often used in casual speech, it can also appear in more playful contexts like social media or among pet enthusiasts. Avoid using it in formal situations; instead, simply refer to cats directly. Be cautious with pronunciation; the first tone 'miāo' must be clear to convey the correct meaning.
Although '喵' is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it is a fun and useful word to know for those at the beginner level. Students can connect it with other animal sounds like '狗叫' (gǒu jiào) for 'dog bark,' expanding their vocabulary on animals and their sounds.
Learners sometimes mispronounce '喵' by using the wrong tone, such as saying 'miáo' (second tone) instead of 'miāo' (first tone). Additionally, some might confuse it with other animal sounds; remember '喵' is specifically for cats.
Pronunciation of 喵
Drill the tone of 喵, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 喵 to you
Let me explain 喵 for you
Make it yours
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 喵 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 喵?
Learning Lab
Knowing 喵 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
- MeaningFree
- CharacterFree
- PinyinFree
- TonePro
- ListeningPro
- SpeakingPro
- WritingPro
Etymology of 喵
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 苗 represents the sound.
mouth
Origin
喵 = 口 + 苗. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 喵
Parts
Which of these is part of 喵?
How to say a cat's meow in Chinese
“a cat's meow” in Chinese is喵
The character '喵' (miāo) is an onomatopoeic term that represents the sound a cat makes, similar to 'meow' in English. It is commonly used to refer to cats in a playful or affectionate manner and can also describe the sound itself in various contexts, such as in children's literature or casual conversations about pets.
When to use 喵
While '喵' is informal and often used in casual speech, it can also appear in more playful contexts like social media or among pet enthusiasts. Avoid using it in formal situations; instead, simply refer to cats directly. Be cautious with pronunciation; the first tone 'miāo' must be clear to convey the correct meaning.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes mispronounce '喵' by using the wrong tone, such as saying 'miáo' (second tone) instead of 'miāo' (first tone). Additionally, some might confuse it with other animal sounds; remember '喵' is specifically for cats.
Write 喵
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 喵 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar patterns of 喵
喵 functions as an onomatopoeic word — it imitates a sound. It often functions as an adverbial or stand-alone exclamation rather than a true verb or noun. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
猫不高兴时会____喵叫，高兴时会发出呜呜声。
Cats miaow when they are unhappy, purr when they are happy.
Example sentences for 喵 (4)
Ask Jason
Have a question about 喵?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Word Family of 喵
Frequently asked questions about 喵
'喵' means the sound a cat makes, similar to 'meow' in English.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 喵?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.