Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
描miáo(miao2)
The character 描 (miáo) means to depict or to sketch something, often referring to drawing or illustrating an image. It is commonly used in artistic contexts, such as describing how one represents a scene or an object. The nuance includes not only the act of drawing but also the idea of refining or touching up the details of an image.
Strokes11Radical扌Frequency#22282DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese art, the concept of 描 (miáo) extends beyond mere representation; it embodies an aesthetic philosophy of capturing the essence of a subject, which is a key principle in traditional Chinese painting and poetry.
Memory Tip
Imagine a painter (描) carefully tracing the outline of a mountain (山) with a sketch pencil, bringing the landscape to life. The character has the radical for 'hand' (扌) suggesting the action of drawing, and the sound 'miáo' can be remembered by associating it with 'meow,' like the sound a cat makes when observing a sketch.
Meanings of 描
miáo(miao2)
1depict
2to trace (a drawing)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 描
描Simplified
11Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#22282Frequency Rank
Podcast: 描
Podcast: 描
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 描
Quick Contrast
描 (miáo) vs 画 (huà) — use 描 when emphasizing detail or refinement in depiction, while 画 focuses on the act of drawing itself.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a painter (描) carefully tracing the outline of a mountain (山) with a sketch pencil, bringing the landscape to life. The character has the radical for 'hand' (扌) suggesting the action of drawing, and the sound 'miáo' can be remembered by associating it with 'meow,' like the sound a cat makes when observing a sketch.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 描 (miáo) with similar-sounding characters like 瞄 (miáo), which means to aim or take aim. This character is more commonly used in artistic contexts, so it is generally informal. Collocations include 描绘 (miáohuì, to depict or portray) and 描述 (miáoshù, to describe).
HSK Study Tips
While 描 (miáo) is not included in the official HSK levels, it can be associated with level 4 vocabulary, particularly in contexts involving art and description. Students should focus on its use in sentences and practice with related verbs like 画 (huà, to draw) and 写 (xiě, to write).
Cultural Note
In Chinese art, the concept of 描 (miáo) extends beyond mere representation; it embodies an aesthetic philosophy of capturing the essence of a subject, which is a key principle in traditional Chinese painting and poetry.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 描 (miáo) with 画 (huà), using them interchangeably when they have different nuances. For instance, saying '我会描画' (Wǒ huì miáo huà) is incorrect; it should be '我会画' (Wǒ huì huà) if referring to the act of drawing in general.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 描
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 描 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 描 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 描
描 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
You write very movingly of your sister Amy's suicide.
9
有关那喀索斯的神话故事在奥维德的作品中有过描述。
yǒu guān nà kā suǒ sī de shén huà gù shì zài ào wéi dé de zuò pǐn zhōng yǒu guò miáo shù。
The myth of Narcissus is described in Ovid's work.
10
那则报道把那里的生活描绘得很凄惨。
nà zé bào dào bǎ nà lǐ de shēng huó miáo huì dé hěn qī cǎn。
The report paints a grim picture of life there.
Cultural Notes for 描
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese art, the concept of 描 (miáo) extends beyond mere representation; it embodies an aesthetic philosophy of capturing the essence of a subject, which is a key principle in traditional Chinese painting and poetry.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, the act of depicting often focuses on realism and detail, while in Chinese traditions, it emphasizes capturing the spirit or essence of the subject, allowing for more abstract interpretations.
Word Family of 描
Words Containing This Character16
描述miáoshùto describe
扫描sǎomiáoto scan掃描
描写miáoxiěto describe描寫
描绘miáohuìto describe描繪
素描sùmiáosketch
描miáoto depict
扫描仪scanner (device)掃描儀
轻描淡写to play down輕描淡寫
扫描器scanner掃描器
描画to draw描畫
描摹to trace over
白描line drawing in traditional ink and brush style
逐行扫描line by line scanning逐行掃描
描金to outline in gold
描图to trace描圖
描红to trace over red characters (as a method of learning to write)描紅
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 描述 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 描
You can say '我想描这个风景' (Wǒ xiǎng miáo zhège fēngjǐng), which means 'I want to depict this scenery.'
It is generally more common in informal contexts, especially related to art, but can be used in formal descriptions as well.
Synonyms include 画 (huà, to draw) and 描绘 (miáohuì, to depict).
