Definitions

miào (noun) temple; shrine
miào (noun) imperial hall

Etymology

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

About

The character is the simplified form of , a phono-semantic compound originally denoting a temple, shrine, or ancestral hall. Its semantic component, 广 (yǎn), depicts a roofed building, highlighting the architectural nature of the place. The phonetic element in the traditional form is (cháo/zhāo), which means 'morning' or 'royal court.' Initially, it referred to ancestral temples where emperors and nobles conducted worship and state affairs, but over time its meaning broadened to include temples for various deities, Buddhist monasteries, and local shrines. The modern simplified character replaces the complex with the simpler component (yóu) while retaining the building radical 广.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这座很大。

Zhè zuò miào hěn dà.

This temple is very big.

里有很多人。

Miào lǐ yǒu hěn duō rén.

There are many people in the temple.

我们去里拜佛。

Wǒmen qù miào lǐ bài fó.

We go to the temple to worship Buddha.

春节时会很热闹。

Chūnjié shí miàohuì hěn rènào.

During Spring Festival, the temple fair is very lively.

这座寺的历史很长。

Zhè zuò sìmiào de lìshǐ hěn cháng.

This temple has a very long history.

前的广场上举行活动。

Miào qián de guǎngchǎng shàng jǔxíng huódòng.

Activities are held on the square in front of the temple.

每年农历初一,人们都去里祈福。

Měi nián nónglì chūyī, rénmen dōu qù miào lǐ qífú.

Every year on the lunar New Year's Day, people go to the temple to pray for blessings.

为了保护古迹,政府对这座进行了修缮。

Wèile bǎohù gǔjī, zhèngfǔ duì zhè zuò miào jìnxíng le xiūshàn.

In order to protect the historical site, the government renovated this temple.