藐

miǎo
艹 + 貌

Definitions

miǎo to despise; small; variant of 渺[miǎo]

Etymology

About

藐 is a phono-semantic compound formed by the grass radical 艹 on top and the component 貌 below as the phonetic. The plant radical originally suggested small or insignificant vegetation, but the character is now used as an adjective or verb meaning extreme smallness, the psychological act of looking down on someone, or showing contempt and disregard. Its meaning shifted entirely toward treating people or situations with disrespect. It appears in formal compounds for slighting authority, ignoring rules, or viewing others as fundamentally inferior.

Example Sentences Hide

不要藐视别人。

Bù yào miǎoshì biérén.

Do not despise others.

他藐视所有困难。

Tā miǎoshì suǒyǒu kùnnán.

He despises all difficulties.

孩子们藐视危险。

Háizimen miǎoshì wēixiǎn.

The children disregard danger.

宇宙中地球是藐小的。

Yǔzhòu zhōng dìqiú shì miǎoxiǎo de.

In the universe, the Earth is tiny.

她以藐然的态度对待他。

Tā yǐ miǎorán de tàidù duìdài tā.

She treats him with a disdainful attitude.

藐视法律会导致严重后果。

Miǎoshì fǎlǜ huì dǎozhì yánzhòng hòuguǒ.

Contempt for the law leads to serious consequences.

在历史长河中，个人显得很藐小。

Zài lìshǐ chánghé zhōng, gèrén xiǎnde hěn miǎoxiǎo.

In the long river of history, individuals appear very insignificant.

尽管他身材藐小，但意志坚强。

Jǐnguǎn tā shēncái miǎoxiǎo, dàn yìzhì jiānqiáng.

Although he is small in stature, his will is strong.

Related Characters

Component: 艹

英 花 落 节 苏 苦 若 药 获 范 著 艺 草 藏

Component: 貌

邈

Example Words

藐视 藐小 藐藐