Definitions

miǎo (noun) second (unit of time)
miǎo (adverb) instantly; in an instant

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

秒 is a phono-semantic compound. Its left side, the semantic radical 禾, represents grain or crops. The right side, 少, means small or few and provides both phonetic value and a semantic hint of tininess. The original meaning referred to the fine, hair-like beard at the tip of an ear of grain, a minute biological detail. This sense of extreme smallness led to the character's adoption for minimal fractions of measurement, becoming the standard unit for a second in time and a second of arc in geometry.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

时间一地过去。

Shíjiān yī miǎo yī miǎo de guòqù.

Time passes second by second.

针走得非常准确。

Miǎozhēn zǒu dé fēicháng zhǔnquè.

The second hand moves very accurately.

他仅仅用了十钟。

Tā jǐnjǐn yòngle shí miǎozhōng.

He used only ten seconds.

我们分必争地工作。

Wǒmen fēn miǎo bì zhēng de gōngzuò.

We work racing against every minute and second.

他的反应速度快了几

Tā de fǎnyìng sùdù kuài le jǐ miǎo.

His reaction speed was a few seconds faster.

这台电脑启动只要五

Zhè tái diànnǎo qǐdòng zhǐ yào wǔ miǎo.

This computer takes only five seconds to start up.

她在比赛的最后几反超。

Tā zài bǐsài de zuìhòu jǐ miǎo fǎnchāo.

She overtook in the last few seconds of the race.

这件商品刚上架就被杀。

Zhè jiàn shāngpǐn gāng shàngjià jiù bèi miǎoshā.

This item sold out instantly as soon as it was listed.