unknown, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #31424, Very Hard
mǐn(min3) T3
1to press, to smooth; to purse the lips
2purse up (lips)
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March 24, 2026
抿mǐn(min3)
The character 抿 (mǐn) primarily means to press or smooth something out, often referring to actions involving the lips such as pursing them. It can be used in contexts where one is trying to flatten or smooth a surface, or when expressing a thoughtful or contemplative demeanor by pressing the lips together.
Strokes8Radical扌Frequency#31424DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese arts like calligraphy or painting, the concept of smoothing out strokes or lines can be tied to the character 抿, emphasizing precision and control in artistic expression.
Memory Tip
Imagine pressing your lips together tightly to create a smooth, flat surface—this can help you remember that 抿 (mǐn) relates to pressing and smoothing. Think of a 'mint' (pronounced similarly) that you might press between your lips for flavor.
Meanings of 抿
mǐn(min3)
1to press, to smooth; to purse the lips
2purse up (lips)
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 抿 means.
About 抿
抿Simplified
8Strokes
扌Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 抿
Podcast: 抿
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AI Study Notes for 抿
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 抿 with similar-sounding words like 闷 (mèn) which means 'to feel stuffy or bored.' This character is typically used in more formal contexts or literary expressions. Common collocations include 抿嘴 (purse the lips) and 抿平 (to smooth out).
HSK Study Tips
This character does not appear in the HSK vocabulary lists, but it is useful for advanced learners who are exploring nuanced expressions. Focus on recognizing its components and how it can be used in more complex sentences regarding actions and expressions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 抿 with similar characters or mispronounce it. For example, saying 'mèn' instead of 'mǐn' changes the meaning entirely. Always pay attention to the tones and context to avoid misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 抿
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Etymology of 抿
Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声å—)~80-90% of characters
Explanation
Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 民 represents the sound.
抿 = 扌 + 民. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 抿
IDS Structure⿰扌民
抿Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
民Min2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 抿?
How to say to press, to smooth; to purse the lips in Chinese
“to press, to smooth; to purse the lips” in Chinese is抿mǐn
The character 抿 (mǐn) primarily means to press or smooth something out, often referring to actions involving the lips such as pursing them. It can be used in contexts where one is trying to flatten or smooth a surface, or when expressing a thoughtful or contemplative demeanor by pressing the lips together.
When to use 抿
Be careful not to confuse 抿 with similar-sounding words like 闷 (mèn) which means 'to feel stuffy or bored.' This character is typically used in more formal contexts or literary expressions. Common collocations include 抿嘴 (purse the lips) and 抿平 (to smooth out).
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 抿 with similar characters or mispronounce it. For example, saying 'mèn' instead of 'mǐn' changes the meaning entirely. Always pay attention to the tones and context to avoid misunderstandings.
Write 抿
抿
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Practice writing 抿 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 抿
抿 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我想____一口茶，可是太烫了。
I tried to sip the tea but it was scalding.
Example Sentences for 抿 (8)
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1
我想抿一口茶，可是太烫了。
wǒ xiǎng mǐn yī kǒu chá， ， kě shì tài tàng。
I tried to sip the tea but it was scalding.
2
她抿了一口水，润一下发干的喉咙。
tā mǐn le yī kǒu shuǐ， ， rùn yī xià fā gān de hóu。
She took a sip of water to moisten her dry throat.
3
她小口地抿着酒。现在一切都变得模糊起来，除了尼克的脸。
tā xiǎo kǒu dì mǐn zháo jiǔ。 。 xiàn zài yī qiē dū biàn dé mó hū qǐ， lái ， chú le ní kè。
She sipped the wine. Everything was hazy now, except for Nick's face.
4
她继续安静地小口抿着加奎宁水的杜松子酒。
tā jì xù ān jìng dì xiǎo kǒu mǐn zháo jiā kuí níng shuǐ de dù sōng zǐ jiǔ。
She carried on serenely sipping her gin and tonic.
