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描写 (miáo xiě) — to describe, to depict, to portray

Definition

描写 (miáoxiě) describes in words, often vivid and detailed — focuses on portraying scenes, people, or feelings. 比 描述 (more neutral/factual) more literary, and broader than 形容 (appearance/qualities only).

verb
to describeto depictto portray

Examples

  • 描写。
    Zhè běn shū xì zhì dì miáo xiě le zhǔ rén gōng de xīn lǐ biàn huà.
    This book carefully describes the protagonist's psychological changes.
  • 描写。
    Huà jiā yòng huà bǐ miáo xiě le dà zì rán de měi lì jǐng sè.
    The painter used a brush to depict the beautiful scenery of nature.
  • 描写。
    Qǐng nǐ miáo xiě yí xià shì gù fā shēng shí de jù tǐ qíng kuàng.
    Please describe the specific situation when the accident occurred.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

描miáodraw
写xiěwrite

描 suggests drawing or depicting and 写 suggests writing, together giving the idea of portraying something in words.

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
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
苗
苗miáo描miáo
Same sound today

The hand part 手 is on the left, showing the action is done with the hand. The right part 苗 gives the sound.

Open 描 →

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 寫; 写 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
舄
舄xì寫xiě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 寫 combines 宀 with 舄 for the sound; this note is about 寫, not the simplified 写.

Open 写 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 5Reading & Writing

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