About
The character 苗 is constructed as an ideogrammic compound that places the semantic element 艹, meaning grass or vegetation, above the element 田, a pictogram of a cultivated field, thereby creating a visual representation of sprouts pushing up from the soil. It originally denoted tender sprouts or young seedlings in an agricultural context. Over time, its meaning extended metaphorically to encompass offspring, descendants, and the nascent beginnings of a phenomenon or development. Moreover, the character names the Miao ethnic group, a minority population primarily residing in southern China and parts of Southeast Asia, and also functions as a common Chinese surname.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
田里的禾苗绿油油。
小树苗需要多浇水。
她姓苗，叫苗小艺。
这些菜苗长得非常壮。
疫苗能保护我们的健康。
新品种的麦苗抗旱能力强。
她的身材保持得很苗条。
这位青年是位根正苗红的好党员。
Report an issue
Flag incorrect definitions, examples, etymology, etc.