神妙 (shén miào) — marvelous, ingenious (with a sense of supernatural or exquisite refinement)

Definition

Describes skill, craftsmanship, or ideas that feel almost supernaturally clever or refined. Stronger and more literary than 巧妙, with an aura of mystery rather than just 'clever'.

adjective
marvelousingenious (with a sense of supernatural or exquisite refinement)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 神妙。
    Zhè fú huà de bǐ fǎ zhēn shì shén miào.
    The brushwork of this painting is truly marvelous.
  • 神妙，。
    Tā shè jì de fāng àn shí fēn shén miào, jiě jué le suǒ yǒu nán tí.
    The plan he designed was ingenious, solving all the problems.
  • 神妙，。
    Zhè jiàn yù diāo gōng yì shén miào, lìng rén tàn wéi guān zhǐ.
    The craftsmanship of this jade carving is exquisite, leaving people in awe.

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.

神shéndivine
妙miàowonderful

神 (divine) + 妙 (wonderful) describes something so clever it seems beyond ordinary skill.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
示示shìgod; deity
Sound part声符shēngfú
申
申shēn神shén
Same sound today

The older form 申 drew lightning, which the ancients regarded as divine; 神 adds 示 (god/deity) to mark that meaning.

Open 神 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
女女nǚwoman
Sound part声符shēngfú
少
少shǎo妙miào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

妙 combines 女, a woman, with 少, which gives the sound.

Open 妙 →

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