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未免 (wèi miǎn) — rather; a bit too (used to express mild criticism or disapproval, often with 太 or 有点)

Definition

未免 means 'a bit too' or 'rather' — used to mildly criticize, almost always paired with 太 or 有点. Unlike 怪 or 比较, it carries a disapproving tone, not a neutral 'quite'.

adverb
rathera bit too (used to express mild criticism or disapproval, often with 太 or 有点)

Examples

  • 未免。
    Nǐ zhè yàng shuō wèi miǎn tài shāng rén le.
    Saying that is a bit too hurtful.
  • 未免。
    Tā zhè me zuò wèi miǎn yǒu diǎn zì sī.
    Doing this is rather selfish of him.
  • ，未免。
    Zhè me wǎn cái dào, wèi miǎn tài bù lǐ mào le.
    Arriving this late is a bit too impolite.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

未wèinot
免miǎnavoid

未 means not and 免 means avoid, so 未免 suggests something cannot quite be avoided.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape 未 shows a tree with extra branches spreading above its trunk, like lush, overlapping limbs.

Open 未 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

免 originally drew a man wearing a ceremonial hat. It was later used for meanings such as avoid and exempt.

Open 免 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6

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