微观 (wēi guān) — micro-, microscopic; (physics) subatomic

Definition

A formal/scientific term meaning 'micro-' — used as a prefix for perspectives, scales, or structures (微观世界, 微观经济). 比微小 more abstract and technical; 微型 describes physical size of objects.

adjective

micro-microscopic(physics) subatomic

Examples

微观。
Cóng wēi guān jiǎo dù fēn xī zhè ge wèn tí.
Analyze this problem from a micro perspective.
微观，。
wēi guān Lì zǐ fēi cháng xiǎo, ròu yǎn kàn bú jiàn.
Subatomic particles are extremely small and invisible to the naked eye.
微观。
Tā men yán jiū le cái liào de wēi guān jié gòu.
They studied the microstructure of the material.

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.

微wēismall

观guānview

微 conveys smallness, and 观 refers to viewing, together suggesting a microscopic view.

Characters in this word

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

𡵂攵微

𡵂美měi
攵攴pūhand with tool

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 →

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 觀; 观 is its simplified writing.

雚見觀

Meaning part形符xíngfú

見見jiànsee

Sound part声符shēngfú

雚

雚guàn觀guān

Same sound today

The traditional form 觀 uses 見 (see) for meaning and 雚 for sound.

Open 观 →