Meanings of 喵
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About 喵
Podcast: 喵
Podcast: 喵
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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
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Etymology of 喵
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 苗 represents the sound.
mouth
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 喵
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 苗 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half苗 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaymouth
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 喵? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 喵
Identify the Components
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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
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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.
Complete the Sentence
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)
Word Family of 喵
Compound Meaning
What does 喵 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 喵
'喵' means the sound a cat makes, similar to 'meow' in English.
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