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眇 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
眇miǎoblind in one eye; subtle, minute, minusculeg, 9 strokes, radical 目
眇miǎoblindunknown, 9 strokes, radical 目
眇miǎotinyunknown, 9 strokes, radical 目
眇miǎohumbleunknown, 9 strokes, radical 目
眇miǎoto stareunknown, 9 strokes, radical 目
miǎo(miao3) T3
  1. 1blind in one eye; subtle, minute, minuscule
  2. 2blind
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

眇miǎo(miao3)

The character 眇 (miǎo) primarily refers to being blind in one eye, but it can also mean subtle or minuscule, emphasizing something small or not easily noticed. It is often used in literary contexts to describe intricate details or minor aspects that require careful observation.

Strokes9Radical目
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being 'blind' can symbolize a lack of insight or awareness, as seen in idiomatic expressions. The character can evoke themes of humility, suggesting that small, subtle things often carry deeper meanings.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tiny mouse (sounds like 'miǎo') peeking with one eye because it's shy. The character 眇 has the radical for 'eye' (目) and a component that suggests smallness, reinforcing the idea of something minute that is often overlooked.

Meanings of 眇

miǎo(miao3)
1blind in one eye; subtle, minute, minuscule
2blind
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 眇

眇Simplified
9Strokes
目Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 眇

JasonAmy

Podcast: 眇

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 眇

Quick Contrast

微 (wēi) — use 眇 (miǎo) when emphasizing something subtle or minuscule in a literary context, while 微 (wēi) is more general for anything small or slight.

Usage Notes

This character is mostly used in written language rather than spoken, making it more formal and suitable for literature or poetry. Be cautious about pronunciation; the tone is third tone (miǎo), which can be confused with other characters if not pronounced correctly. Common collocations include phrases that describe subtle details in art or nature.

HSK Study Tips

While 眇 is not included in HSK levels, understanding it can deepen your vocabulary related to physical conditions and subtle descriptions. Students should focus on differentiating it from similar-sounding words and practicing its usage in context.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 眇 (miǎo) with similar-sounding characters like 妙 (miào), which means wonderful or clever. Always check the context to ensure you're using the correct word.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 眇

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Etymology of 眇

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Too small 少 to be seen by the naked eye 目

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 眇

  1. 1The giveawayToo small 少 to be seen by the naked eye 目
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 眇? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 眇?

Decomposition of 眇

IDS Structure⿰目少
眇Full Character
=
目mu4
left
少shao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 眇?

How to say blind in one eye; subtle, minute, minuscule in Chinese

“blind in one eye; subtle, minute, minuscule” in Chinese is眇miǎo

The character 眇 (miǎo) primarily refers to being blind in one eye, but it can also mean subtle or minuscule, emphasizing something small or not easily noticed. It is often used in literary contexts to describe intricate details or minor aspects that require careful observation.

When to use 眇

This character is mostly used in written language rather than spoken, making it more formal and suitable for literature or poetry. Be cautious about pronunciation; the tone is third tone (miǎo), which can be confused with other characters if not pronounced correctly. Common collocations include phrases that describe subtle details in art or nature.

眇 or something close to it

微 (wēi) — use 眇 (miǎo) when emphasizing something subtle or minuscule in a literary context, while 微 (wēi) is more general for anything small or slight.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 眇 (miǎo) with similar-sounding characters like 妙 (miào), which means wonderful or clever. Always check the context to ensure you're using the correct word.

Write 眇

眇

Practice writing 眇 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 眇

Words Containing This Character1
眇miǎoblind
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 眇 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 眇

While 眇 specifically refers to being blind in one eye, other characters like 盲 (máng) mean completely blind. Understanding these differences can help convey more precise meanings.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 眇?

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.