描 meaning and stroke order
To copy, to depict, to sketch, to trace
How to write 描, stroke by stroke
11 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
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- 4
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- 11
Meaning of 描
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to depict
- to trace (a drawing)
- to copy
- to touch up
How 描 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hand.
扌 gives the meaning and 苗 hints at the sound.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 描
A hand 扌 tracing the shape of young sprouts 苗 (miáo) is drawing them. The hand tells you the meaning, and 苗 gives the sound miáo.
描 rarely appears alone in modern speech. It shows up in words like 描述 (miáoshù, to describe), 描写 (miáoxiě, to depict in writing) and 扫描 (sǎomiáo, to scan). Example: 请描述一下那个人。 (Qǐng miáoshù yíxià nàge rén.) Please describe that person.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes write 瞄 (miáo, to aim, to glance) instead. 瞄 has the eye radical 目 and is about looking, while 描 has the hand radical 扌 and is about drawing or describing.
Common words with 描
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 描述 | miáoshù | to describe; description | HSK 4 |
| 描写 | miáoxiě | to describe; to depict; to portray; depiction; portrayal | HSK 4 |
| 扫描 | sǎomiáo | to scan | HSK 7-9 |
| 描绘 | miáohuì | to describe; to depict; to portray | HSK 7-9 |
| 素描 | sùmiáo | sketch | HSK 7-9 |
| 扫描仪 | sǎomiáoyí | scanner (device) | |
| 轻描淡写 | qīngmiáodànxiě | (idiom) to treat sth as no big deal; to downplay |
描 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 描
How many strokes are in 描?
描 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 描 mean?
描 (miáo) means to copy, to depict, to sketch, to trace. A common word with it is 描述 (miáoshù), meaning "to describe; description".
How do you pronounce 描?
描 is pronounced miáo, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 描?
The radical of 描 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 描 under this radical.
Is 描 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 描 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
What is the difference between 描述 and 描写?
描述 (miáoshù) is the general word for describing something in speech or writing, like describing a problem or a person. 描写 (miáoxiě) is more literary and is often used for vivid depiction in novels, essays or art.
What does 轻描淡写 mean and when is it used?
轻描淡写 (qīngmiáodànxiě) literally means painting with light strokes and pale colors. It describes talking about something serious as if it were minor, for example 他轻描淡写地说了一句 (he mentioned it casually as if it were nothing).