乜 meaning and stroke order
To squint
How to write 乜, stroke by stroke
2 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
Meaning of 乜
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- used in 乜斜[mie1 xie5]
- (Cantonese) what?
How 乜 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 乚 (secret), shared by 9 characters on this site.
How to remember 乜
乜 (miē) is built on the hook-like component 乚, a bent stroke that curves and sweeps out. Picture that bent line as an eye narrowed into a sideways squint.
In Mandarin, 乜 (miē) mostly appears in the word 乜斜 (miēxie), meaning to squint or look at someone sideways, often with disdain or drowsiness. Example: 他乜斜着眼看我。(Tā miēxie zhe yǎn kàn wǒ.) He squinted sideways at me. In Cantonese it is a very common word for "what", as in 乜嘢 (what thing).
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 乜 with 也 (yě, also), which looks similar but has an extra vertical stroke inside. If you read 乜 as yě, or write 也 when you mean 乜, the meaning changes completely.
Questions about 乜
How many strokes are in 乜?
乜 is written with 2 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 乜 mean?
乜 (miē) means to squint.
How do you pronounce 乜?
乜 is pronounced miē, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 乜?
The radical of 乜 is 乚, which carries the idea of "secret". Dictionaries list 乜 under this radical.
Why do I see 乜 so often in Hong Kong texts?
In written Cantonese, 乜 means "what", so it shows up in chats, signs, and subtitles. Phrases like 乜嘢 (what) and 做乜 (why, what for) are everyday Cantonese. Standard Mandarin uses 什么 (shénme) instead.
Is 乜 also used as a surname?
Yes, 乜 is a rare Chinese surname. As a surname it is commonly pronounced niè rather than miē, so check the context when you see it in a name.