unit of angle or arc equivalent to one sixtieth of a degree
HSK 4, m, 9 strokes, radical 禾, rank #961, Medium
秒
miǎo
a second; a corn kernel; measure word for time
HSK 4, m, 9 strokes, radical 禾, rank #961, Medium
miǎo(miao3)miao T3
1second (of time)
2unit of angle or arc equivalent to one sixtieth of a degree
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March 24, 2026
秒miǎo(miao3)
秒 (miǎo) primarily means 'second,' referring to both a unit of time and a unit of angle, equivalent to one sixtieth of a degree. It is commonly used in contexts related to measuring time, such as timing events or durations. Additionally, it can denote 'a second' in various comparative contexts.
Strokes9Radical禾Frequency#961DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, precision in timing is valued, especially in contexts like business meetings and festivals, where timing can symbolize good fortune. Understanding the concept of seconds is essential for navigating these societal norms.
Memory Tip
Imagine a stopwatch counting seconds, with each tick sounding like 'miǎo.' The character 秒 combines the components of 'small' (小) and 'to measure' ( measuring something precisely in a short amount of time). Visualize a tiny second ticking away, emphasizing the brevity of the moment.
Meanings of 秒
miǎo(miao3)
1second (of time)
2unit of angle or arc equivalent to one sixtieth of a degree
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 秒
秒Simplified
9Strokes
禾Radical
数词shùcínumeral (num.)Part of Speech
#961Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 秒
Podcast: 秒
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AI Study Notes for 秒
Quick Contrast
分 (fēn) - Use 秒 (miǎo) for precise time measurement, while 分 (fēn) refers to 'minute' or a division of time.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 秒 (miǎo), as mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with similar-sounding words. It is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but avoid using it with more colloquial terms for time, such as '点' (diǎn) for 'o'clock.' Common collocations include '几秒' (jǐ miǎo) meaning 'several seconds.'
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 秒 connects with other time-related terms like '分钟' (fēnzhōng, minute) and '小时' (xiǎoshí, hour), helping students build a comprehensive vocabulary around time measurement. Focus on mastering its usage in sentences related to speed and timing.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 秒 (miǎo) with 时候 (shíhòu), which means 'time' in a broader sense. For example, saying '我需要等三十时候' instead of '我需要等三十秒' is incorrect. Always use 秒 for specific seconds.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 秒
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How Well Do You Know 秒?
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Knowing 秒 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.
秒 = 禾 + 少. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 秒
IDS Structure⿰禾少
秒Full Character
=
禾he2
left
少shao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 秒?
How to say second (of time) in Chinese
“second (of time)” in Chinese is秒miǎo
秒 (miǎo) primarily means 'second,' referring to both a unit of time and a unit of angle, equivalent to one sixtieth of a degree. It is commonly used in contexts related to measuring time, such as timing events or durations. Additionally, it can denote 'a second' in various comparative contexts.
When to use 秒
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 秒 (miǎo), as mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with similar-sounding words. It is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but avoid using it with more colloquial terms for time, such as '点' (diǎn) for 'o'clock.' Common collocations include '几秒' (jǐ miǎo) meaning 'several seconds.'
秒 or something close to it
分 (fēn) - Use 秒 (miǎo) for precise time measurement, while 分 (fēn) refers to 'minute' or a division of time.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 秒 (miǎo) with 时候 (shíhòu), which means 'time' in a broader sense. For example, saying '我需要等三十时候' instead of '我需要等三十秒' is incorrect. Always use 秒 for specific seconds.
Write 秒
秒
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Practice writing 秒 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 秒
秒 functions as a number. It almost always combines with a measure word before a noun (三个人, 五本书). Standalone numbers are rare outside of math or counting. 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
戴维斯落后了差不多两____，获得第三名。
Davies finished almost two seconds in arrears for third place.
Usage Notes for 秒
Misunderstanding Contextual MeaningCommon Error
The character '秒' can refer to both a unit of time and a corn kernel. It's important to understand the context to avoid confusion.
1
这场比赛持续了五分钟三秒。
The match lasted for five minutes and three seconds.
2
每秒三颗玉米。
Three corn kernels per second.
Exercise 1 of 1
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
这场比赛持续了五分钟三____。
The match lasted for five minutes and three seconds.
Example Sentences for 秒 (10)
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1
戴维斯落后了差不多两秒，获得第三名。
dài wéi sī luò hòu le chà bù duō liǎng miǎo， ， huò dé dì sān。
Davies finished almost two seconds in arrears for third place.
In a large microwave-proof dish, melt butter for 20 seconds.
7
在最后的几秒钟，甘恩队的守门员凯文·坎特维尔扑出了两次射门。
zài zuì hòu de jī miǎo zhōng， ， gān ēn duì de shǒu mén yuán kǎi· wén · kǎn tè wéi ěr pū chū le liǎng cì。
In the final seconds, Gunn goalie Kevin Cantwell blocked two shots.
8
他比自己以前的最好成绩快了1秒多。
tā bǐ zì jǐ yǐ qián de zuì hǎo chéng jì kuài le1 1 miǎo。
He was over a second faster than his previous best time.
9
她以两分8秒74的成绩创了纪录。
tā yǐ liǎng fēn8 874 miǎo 74 de chéng jì chuàng le。
She recorded a time of two minutes 74 seconds.
10
60秒为1分.
60 60 miǎo1 wéi.
Sixty seconds make a minute.
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Cultural Notes for 秒
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, the concept of time is often seen as fluid rather than rigid. The term '秒' reflects not just a unit of time but also the importance of timing in daily life, such as in traditional festivals and ceremonies.
Word Family of 秒
Words Containing This Character7
秒miǎosecond (unit of time)
秒钟(time) second秒鐘
争分夺秒zhēngfēnduómiǎomaking every second count爭分奪秒
秒表stopwatch
分秒必争every moment counts分秒必爭
毫秒millisecond, ms
秒针second hand (of a clock)秒針
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 秒
What does 秒钟 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 秒
Examples of using 秒 (miǎo) include phrases like '三十秒' (sānshí miǎo) for 'thirty seconds' or '一秒钟' (yī miǎo zhōng) for 'one second.' It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts when discussing time.
While 秒 (miǎo) itself is straightforward, it can appear in expressions related to speed or timing, such as '一秒钟都不想等' (yī miǎo zhōng dōu bù xiǎng děng), meaning 'I don't want to wait even a second.'
秒 (miǎo) means 'second' in Chinese, which is a unit of time. It's commonly used in everyday conversation to express time durations. Additionally, it can refer to a unit of angle, equivalent to one sixtieth of a degree.
You can use 秒 (miǎo) in sentences to indicate time, such as '我需要五秒钟' (Wǒ xūyào wǔ miǎo zhōng), meaning 'I need five seconds.' It's also used in contexts related to measuring time in various activities.
You can use 秒 in sentences like '这场比赛只花了三十秒' (This game only took thirty seconds).
No, while it primarily refers to time, it can also denote an angular measurement.
秒 refers to seconds, while 分钟 (fēnzhōng) refers to minutes, with 60 seconds making up one minute.
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