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微弱 (wēi ruò) — weak, faint, feeble

Definition

微弱 describes things that are faint or barely perceptible — light, sound, hope. It overlaps with 衰弱 (physical decline) and 软弱 (weak character), but 微弱 is about low intensity, not weakness of body or will.

adjective
weakfaintfeeble

Examples

  • 微弱，。
    Tā de shēng yīn hěn wēi ruò, jī hū tīng bú jiàn.
    Her voice was so weak it was almost inaudible.
  • 微弱。
    Yuǎn chù de dēng guāng fēi cháng wēi ruò.
    The light in the distance is very faint.
  • 微弱。
    Tā men xīn zhōng hái cún yǒu yī xiàn wēi ruò de xī wàng.
    They still hold a faint ray of hope in their hearts.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

微wēifaint
弱ruòweak

微 and 弱 both describe something faint or weak, giving the sense of feeble.

Characters in this word

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

The old form showed 𡵂 (a variant of 美, a person with long hair) and 攵 (a hand with a tool) splitting or combing hairs, hence minute; 微 later added 彳 to emphasize action.

Open 微 →

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

  • 弓弓gōngbow
  • 彡彡shānhair, meaning "decoration" in this case

弱 pairs 弓 (bow) with 彡 (hair), showing a decorative bow that is functionally inferior, or a shaking, worn-out bow.

Open 弱 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Good & Bad

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