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March 24, 2026
缥(縹)piāo(piao1)
The character 缥 (piāo) refers to something that is dim, misty, or indistinct, often evoking a sense of delicacy and ethereality. It is commonly used in contexts involving natural phenomena like fog or haze, as well as in literature to describe soft, fleeting visuals such as silk veils.
Strokes14Radical纟Frequency#70160DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese poetry and literature, the depiction of mist or haze often symbolizes ambiguity and the transient nature of beauty, making 缥 a significant word in expressing emotional depth.
Memory Tip
Imagine a soft, misty veil made of silk, fluttering gently in the breeze. The character 缥 has the radical '丝' (silk) on the left, reminding you of its connection to silk veils, while the right part suggests something that floats or drifts, like fog.
Meanings of 缥
piāo(piao1)
primary
1dim, misty, indistinct; a silk veil
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 缥
缥Simplified
縹Traditional
14Strokes
纟Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 缥
Podcast: 缥
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AI Study Notes for 缥
Quick Contrast
缥 (piāo) vs 朦 (méng) — use 缥 for delicate, ethereal qualities, while 朦 emphasizes obscurity and indistinctness.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a soft, misty veil made of silk, fluttering gently in the breeze. The character 缥 has the radical '丝' (silk) on the left, reminding you of its connection to silk veils, while the right part suggests something that floats or drifts, like fog.
Usage Notes
Be aware that 缥 is often used in literary contexts rather than everyday conversation, making it more suitable for formal writing or poetry. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding characters; ensure you are familiar with its specific meaning related to mistiness.
HSK Study Tips
Although 缥 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with other words describing weather or visual quality, such as 雾 (wù, fog) and 朦胧 (ménglóng, hazy). Focus on the imagery it conveys to deepen your understanding of descriptive language.
Cultural Note
In Chinese poetry and literature, the depiction of mist or haze often symbolizes ambiguity and the transient nature of beauty, making 缥 a significant word in expressing emotional depth.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 缥 with other similar characters like 漂 (piāo, which means to float or drift), leading to incorrect usage in contexts. For instance, saying '缥的水' instead of '漂的水' (floating water) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 缥
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Grammar Patterns of 缥
缥 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
kùn nǎo zháo zhè hái zǐ de gǎn qíng nǎi shì yī zhǒng xū wú piǎo miǎo de kǒng bù.
The feeling which beset the child was one of dim uncertain horror.
Cultural Notes for 缥
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese poetry and literature, the depiction of mist or haze often symbolizes ambiguity and the transient nature of beauty, making 缥 a significant word in expressing emotional depth.
Word Family of 缥
Words Containing This Character3
缥缈as in a mist縹緲
虚无缥缈unreal虛無縹緲
缥piāomisty縹
Exercise 1 of 3
Compound Meaning
What does 缥缈 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 缥
You can say '山上缥缈的雾' (shān shàng piāo miǎo de wù), which means 'the mist hovering over the mountain'.
No, 缥 is more often found in literary contexts rather than in everyday speech.
Synonyms include 朦胧 (ménglóng, hazy) and 模糊 (móhú, blurred).
