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咪 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
a cat's meow; a metern, 9 strokes, radical 口, rank #1833, Hard
sound for calling a catunknown, 9 strokes, radical 口, rank #1833, Hard
(mi1) T1
  1. 1a cat's meow; a meter
  2. 2sound for calling a cat
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(mi1)

The character 咪 (mī) primarily refers to the sound a cat makes, similar to 'meow' in English. It can also denote a specific measurement called a 'meter' in certain contexts, particularly in informal speech. This character is often used in playful or affectionate contexts when talking about cats.

Strokes9RadicalFrequency#1833DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, cats are often associated with companionship and playfulness, making the term 咪 commonly used among pet owners when referring to their cats. Additionally, the sound of a cat meowing is a familiar and endearing part of daily life in many Chinese households.

Memory Tip

Think of a cat saying '咪' (mī) as it meows, emphasizing the sound it makes. Imagine a cat with a tiny measuring tape around its neck, indicating that '咪' can also refer to a meter. Visualize the cat calling out to you, making it memorable.

Meanings of 咪

(mi1)
1a cat's meow; a meter
2sound for calling a cat
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 咪

Simplified
9Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 咪

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 咪

Memory Mnemonic

Think of a cat saying '咪' (mī) as it meows, emphasizing the sound it makes. Imagine a cat with a tiny measuring tape around its neck, indicating that '咪' can also refer to a meter. Visualize the cat calling out to you, making it memorable.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 咪 with other animal sounds or use it in overly formal contexts. It is informal and best used in casual conversations, particularly among cat lovers. Be cautious with tone, as the first tone (mī) is crucial for the correct pronunciation.

HSK Study Tips

Although 咪 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects with other animal sounds and informal expressions in early HSK levels. Students should focus on pronunciation and context, as these are key to using the word correctly.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, cats are often associated with companionship and playfulness, making the term 咪 commonly used among pet owners when referring to their cats. Additionally, the sound of a cat meowing is a familiar and endearing part of daily life in many Chinese households.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mix up 咪 with other similar-sounding words, such as 媚 (mèi) which means 'charming.' For example, saying '我喜欢咪猫' (Wǒ xǐhuān mì māo) instead of '我喜欢咪的猫' (Wǒ xǐhuān mī de māo) can lead to confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 咪

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Etymology of 咪

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 米 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

mouth

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 咪?

Decomposition of 咪

IDS Structure⿰口米
Full Character
=
kou3
left
Mi3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 咪?

Write 咪

Practice writing 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 咪

咪 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 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.

Exercise 1 of 5

Complete the Sentence

从某个地方传来猫____喵喵的叫声。

From somewhere, the kitten mewed.

Example Sentences for 咪 (6)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
从某个地方传来猫咪喵喵的叫声。

cóng mǒu gè dì fāng chuán lái māo mī miāo miāo de jiào shēng。

From somewhere, the kitten mewed.
2
雪莉带着生病的猫咪去看兽医.

xuě lì dài zháo shēng bìng de māo mī qù kàn shòu yī.

Shelly took the sick cat to a veterinarian.
3
卡拉正蜷缩在沙发上,一边吸着烟,一边轻抚着她的猫咪。

kǎ lā zhèng quán suō zài shā fā shàng, , yī biān xī zháo, yān , yī biān qīng fǔ zháo tā de。

Carla, curled up on the sofa, was smoking a cigarette and stroking her cat.
4
“ 妈咪! ” “ 什么事? ” “我渴. ”

“ “ mā!”“ mī ! ” “ shí?”“ mó shì.”

'Mommy!'' What?'' I'm thirsty.'
5
这类含氮化合物的例子是咪唑, 三聚氰酸三酰胺, 三聚氰酸一酰胺.

zhè lèi hán dàn huà hé wù de lì zǐ shì mī zuò, , sān jù qíng suān sān xiān, àn , sān jù qíng suān yī.

Examples of such nitrogenous compounds are imidazole, ammeline, ammelide.
6
这类含氮化合物的例子是咪脲唑,三聚氰酸三酰胺, 三聚氰酸一酰胺.

zhè lèi hán dàn huà hé wù de lì zǐ shì mī niào zuò, , sān jù qíng suān sān xiān, àn , sān jù qíng suān yī.

Examples of such nitrogenous compounds are imidurazole, ammeline, ammelide.

Cultural Notes for 咪

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, cats are often associated with companionship and playfulness, making the term 咪 commonly used among pet owners when referring to their cats. Additionally, the sound of a cat meowing is a familiar and endearing part of daily life in many Chinese households.

Word Family of 咪

Words Containing This Character4
sound for calling a cat
妈咪mommy (loanword)媽咪
咪咪(onom.) meow
咪唑imidazole (chemistry) (loanword)
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 咪 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 咪

咪 translates to 'meow,' the sound a cat makes.