腼

靦

miǎn

月 + 面

Definitions

miǎn modest, bashful

Etymology

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

Semantic: ⺼ Phonetic: 面

About

The character 腼 is the simplified form of 靦. The traditional form combined 面 'face' and 見 'see' to depict the face as the site of visible emotion, while the simplified form restructured it into a phonosemantic compound: ⺼ (meat) suggests the body, and 面 provides the sound. It describes blushing or a look of shame stemming from embarrassment, and almost always appears in the compound 腼腆 to describe a shy or timid person. The character captures the outward display of inner feelings, often prompting one to avoid eye contact.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个男孩很腼腆。

Zhège nánhái hěn miǎntiǎn.

This boy is very shy.

她腼腆地笑了。

Tā miǎntiǎn de xiào le.

She smiled shyly.

面对陌生人时，他显得很腼腆。

Miànduì mòshēngrén shí, tā xiǎnde hěn miǎntiǎn.

When facing strangers, he appears very shy.

他的腼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，但外表总是腼腆的。

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，他的腼腆使他紧张不已。

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，他逐渐克服了腼腆的缺点。

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

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

她那腼腆的笑容背后，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.

Related Characters

Component: 月

Component: 面

腼