DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT
微
Characters in this entry
- 微
- wēi · small, prefix micro-, trifling
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Mandarin tones
1 · wei1
Compare attested words with these syllables ↗Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.
Connected dictionary
1character link35same-tone records
Counts describe dictionary records, not word frequency or semantic similarity. Source identities stay separate.Read this spelling in Classical texts
Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.
Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 17 senses · 1 Cantonese reading
Rime Cantonese 粵拼
mei4
Cantonese word readings for 微. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.
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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section
Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.
character · Etymology 1
- tiny; small; trifling
- to decline; to deteriorate
- humble; low-ranking
- slight; gentle
- slightly; gently
- subtle
- (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) to not have
- micro- (SI unit prefix)
- (～母) (Chinese linguistics) the Middle Chinese initial of 微 (MC mj+j)
- (～日) (telegraphy) the fifth day of a month
character · Etymology 2
- (mouth, eyes, etc.) to close slightly; to squint
- (Min, Southern) a little
character · Etymology 3
- (Zhangzhou and Taiwanese Hokkien) quietly (go somewhere)
- (Zhangzhou Hokkien) to hide quietly
- (Taiwanese Hokkien) to snatch stealthily; to secretly steal
- (Taiwanese Hokkien) to tear off; to cut off (a piece of something)
- (Taiwanese Hokkien) to peek; to steal a glance
Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack