描 (miáo) — to trace, to copy (by drawing over existing lines); to touch up, to retouch (improve details in a drawing or appearance); to describe (in writing or speech)
Definition
Used mostly as a verb root in drawing/illustration: 描画, 描绘, 素描. By extension means 'to describe/depict' in writing (as in 描述), giving a vivid, detailed picture rather than a plain account.
verb
to traceto copy (by drawing over existing lines)to touch upto retouch (improve details in a drawing or appearance)to describe (in writing or speech)
Examples
- 。Tā zhào zhe yuán tú xì xì de miáo le yí biàn.He carefully traced over the original drawing.
- ，。Huà jiā zài huà shàng yòu miáo le jǐ bǐ, ràng yán sè gèng zì rán.The painter added a few more touches to the picture to make the colors more natural.
- 。Tā yòng shēng dòng de cí yǔ miáo xiě chū le nà yí kè de gǎn shòu.She used vivid words to describe the feeling at that moment.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
The hand part 手 is on the left, showing the action is done with the hand. The right part 苗 gives the sound.
Appears in
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