Definitions
(adjective)
tiny; miniature; slight
(verb)
to decline; diminish
(prefix)
micro
Etymology
Phonosemantic compound. 彳 represents the meaning and 𢼸 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "go out and hide". The meaning later shifted to "conceal" and "tiny".
About
The character 微, meaning small, subtle, or slight, originates from an idea of concealed or minute movement, a concept embedded in its traditional construction. Its etymological core is often linked to notions of stealth or going unnoticed, combining the radical 彳, suggesting a step or movement, with elements that contributed meanings of long hair or fine detail and a component implying action or striking, together painting a picture of moving with subtle caution or being insignificantly visible. Over time, its semantic focus shifted from the act of concealing or moving secretly towards describing the quality of minuteness itself, encompassing things that are fine, trifling, or profound in their delicacy. This expansion allowed it to form compounds describing humble status, subtle phenomena, and even microscopic scales. The simplified form retained the essential 彳 but streamlined the right-hand phonetic and semantic components, maintaining the character's conceptual link to the faint and the fine while altering its visual complexity.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他对我微微一笑。
微风吹过湖面。
这里发生了微妙的变化。
信号在这里非常微弱。
她在微博上很受欢迎。
科学家正在研究微观世界。
他的收入微薄，难以养家。
这个方案还需要细微调整。