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精妙 (jīng miào) — exquisite, fine and delicate (of art, design, craftsmanship)

Definition

Highlights how something works as well as how it looks — 'ingenious and exquisite'. Stronger and more skill-focused than 精致 (refined appearance) or 精美 (pretty, decorative).

adjective
exquisitefine and delicate (of art, design, craftsmanship)

Examples

  • 精妙。
    Zhè jiàn gōng yì pǐn de zuò gōng shí fēn jīng miào.
    The craftsmanship of this artwork is very exquisite.
  • 精妙，。
    Tā de shè jì gòu sī jīng miào dú tè, lìng rén zàn tàn.
    His design concept is exquisite and unique, earning admiration.
  • 精妙，。
    Zhè fú huà de bǐ fǎ jīng miào, yí kàn jiù shì dà shī zhī zuò.
    The brushwork of this painting is exquisite — you can tell it's a master's work at a glance.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

精jīngfine
妙miàomarvelous

精 (fine) and 妙 (marvelous) combine to describe exquisite, delicate, ingenious work.

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
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
青
青qīng精jīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

精 pairs 米 (rice) with 青, which gives the sound; the character originally meant polished rice.

Open 精 →

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
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.

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

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