Meanings of 米
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About 米
Podcast: 米
Podcast: 米
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AI Study Notes for 米
小米 (xiǎomǐ) vs 粟 (sù) — choose 米 for general rice or grain, while 小米 specifically refers to millet and 粟 to foxtail millet.
米 is generally used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing food or agriculture. A common mistake is to confuse 米 with 斤 (jīn), which refers to weight; remember that 米 specifically indicates the grain itself. When using it in combination with other words, ensure to use the correct measure word, like 粒 (lì) for individual grains.
As an HSK Level 3 word, 米 connects well with other food-related vocabulary such as 饭 (fàn, cooked rice/meal) and 面 (miàn, noodles). Focus on using 米 in sentences related to meals or cooking to reinforce its meaning and usage.
Learners often confuse 米 with the character for 'meter' (米), leading to sentences like '我有三米米' (I have three meters of rice), which is incorrect. Instead, use '我有三粒米' (I have three grains of rice).
Pronunciation of 米
Drill the tone of 米 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 米
Pictograph of grains of rice.
Grains of rice
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 米
Pictograph of grains of rice.
- 1The giveawayGrains of rice
- 2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 米? 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
What type of character formation is 米?
Decomposition of 米
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 米?
How to say rice in Chinese
“rice” in Chinese is米
米 (mǐ) primarily means 'rice', a staple food in Chinese cuisine. It can also refer to other grains and is used as a classifier for small, round objects, like grains of rice. Additionally, 米 is a common surname in China, representing a significant aspect of Chinese culture and agriculture.
When to use 米
米 is generally used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing food or agriculture. A common mistake is to confuse 米 with 斤 (jīn), which refers to weight; remember that 米 specifically indicates the grain itself. When using it in combination with other words, ensure to use the correct measure word, like 粒 (lì) for individual grains.
米 or something close to it
小米 (xiǎomǐ) vs 粟 (sù) — choose 米 for general rice or grain, while 小米 specifically refers to millet and 粟 to foxtail millet.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 米 with the character for 'meter' (米), leading to sentences like '我有三米米' (I have three meters of rice), which is incorrect. Instead, use '我有三粒米' (I have three grains of rice).
Write 米
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Practice writing 米 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 米
米 functions as a measure word. Place it between a number/demonstrative and the noun it counts (一本书, 这个人). Different categories of nouns require different measure words. It carries 4 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
他有一____八高。
He is 1.8 meters tall.
Example Sentences for 米 (19)
Reorder the Sentence
I eat rice every evening.
Word Family of 米
Compound Meaning
What does 来 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 米
米 refers to uncooked rice grains, while 饭 refers to cooked rice or a meal.
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