蔑 (miè) — disdain, scorn (bound form, used in compounds)

Definition

蔑 is a bound form meaning 'to despise, look down on.' It only appears in compounds like 蔑视 and 轻蔑, not as a standalone verb.

bound form
disdainscorn (bound form, used in compounds)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Tā duì wǒ lù chū miè shì de yǎn shén.
    He gave me a look of contempt.
  • 。
    Tā nà qīng miè de yǔ qì ràng wǒ hěn bù shū fu.
    His scornful tone made me very uncomfortable.
  • 。
    Nǐ bú yào zhè yàng miè shì hǎo rén.
    Don't despise good people like that.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 𦰋𦰋𦰋person
  • 戈戈gēdagger-axe

蔑 combines 𦰋, a person, with 戈, a dagger-axe, to picture a weapon striking a person's lower leg, meaning to obliterate.

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