妙语 (miào yǔ) — witty remark, witticism | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A 'witty remark' — language that is clever, apt, and often humorous, prized in speeches and writing. More literary and elaborate than a casual quip.

noun

witty remarkwitticism

Easily confused

庙宇miào yǔsound-aliketemple (building for worship)

Examples

妙语。
Tā de miào yǔ ràng quán chǎng guān zhòng dōu xiào le.
His witty remark made the whole audience laugh.
妙语。
Zhè piān yǎn jiǎng gǎo lǐ chōng mǎn le miào yǔ.
This speech draft is full of witticisms.
妙语。
Tā zǒng néng zài liáo tiān zhōng mào chū jǐ jù miào yǔ.
He can always come up with a few witty remarks during a chat.

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.

妙miàowonderful

妙 (wonderful) + 语 (words) gives a witty remark.

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.

女少妙

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.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 語; 语 is its simplified writing.

言吾語

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

吾

吾wú語yǔ

Same sound today

The form 語 pairs 言 (speech) with 吾, which gives the sound; this note is about 語, not 语.

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