Definitions

miǎn modest, bashful

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. ⺼ represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 腼, often seen in its traditional form 靦, combines the face radical 面 with the phonetic component 殄. Its structure centers on how the face changes with emotion. The character primarily describes the physical act of blushing or appearing ashamed, reflecting inner embarrassment or shyness. It is almost exclusively used in the compound 腼腆, which describes someone who is timid or easily embarrassed in social situations. Historically, the character captures the outward sign of inward feelings that often cause one to avert their gaze or hide the face.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个男孩很腆。

Zhège nánhái hěn miǎntiǎn.

This boy is very shy.

腆地笑了。

Tā miǎntiǎn de xiào le.

She smiled shyly.

面对陌生人时,他显得很腆。

Miànduì mòshēngrén shí, tā xiǎnde hěn miǎntiǎn.

When facing strangers, he appears very shy.

他的腆性格让他交朋友有些困难。

Tā de miǎntiǎn xìnggé ràng tā jiāo péngyǒu yǒuxiē kùnnán.

His shy personality makes it somewhat difficult for him to make friends.

尽管她内心热情,但外表总是腆的。

Jǐnguǎn tā nèixīn rèqíng, dàn wàibiǎo zǒngshì miǎntiǎn de.

Although she is warm-hearted inside, her appearance is always shy.

在公众场合发言时,他的腆使他紧张不已。

Zài gōngzhòng chǎnghé fāyán shí, tā de miǎntiǎn shǐ tā jǐnzhāng bùyǐ.

When speaking in public, his shyness makes him very nervous.

通过不断的社交练习,他逐渐克服了腆的缺点。

Tōngguò bùduàn de shèjiāo liànxí, tā zhújiàn kèfú le miǎntiǎn de quēdiǎn.

Through continuous social practice, he gradually overcame the shortcoming of shyness.

她那腆的笑容背后,隐藏着坚定的决心。

Tā nà miǎntiǎn de xiàoróng bèihòu, yǐncáng zhe jiāndìng de juéxīn.

Behind her shy smile, there is a firm determination hidden.