Meaning of 袖珍
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- pocket-sized
- pocket (book etc)
How to use 袖珍
袖珍 describes things that are much smaller than usual, often books, dictionaries, devices, or even animals and cities. It usually comes right before a noun, sometimes with 的. Example: 我买了一本袖珍词典。(Wǒ mǎi le yì běn xiùzhēn cídiǎn.) I bought a pocket dictionary.
袖 (xiù) is a sleeve and 珍 (zhēn) is a treasure, as in 珍珠 (zhēnzhū) pearl. Picture a treasure small enough to hide in your sleeve, and you have something pocket-sized.
Common mistake: Learners often write 袖 with the 示 radical (礻) instead of the clothing radical 衣 (衤). The clothing radical has an extra short stroke, which makes sense because a sleeve is part of clothing. Also keep the fourth tone on xiù, and do not confuse it with 秀 (xiù, elegant).
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
袖 xiù · sleeve · 10 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
珍 zhēn · a treasure · 9 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
Related words
Words that share a character with 袖珍.
| 珍惜 | zhēnxī | to treasure; to value |
| 珍贵 | zhēnguì | precious |
| 珍珠 | zhēnzhū | pearl (CL:顆|颗[ke1],粒[li4]); (fig.) teardrop; tear |
| 领袖 | lǐngxiù | leader |
| 袖手旁观 | xiùshǒu-pángguān | to watch with folded arms (idiom); to look on without lifting a finger |
| 珍藏 | zhēncáng | a collection of rare and valuable items; to collect (such items) |
| 珍视 | zhēnshì | to place great importance on; to treasure |
| 珍重 | zhēnzhòng | to treasure; to cherish; to value highly; (in parting) take good care of yourself |
| 袖子 | xiùzi | sleeve |
| 珍宝 | zhēnbǎo | a treasure |
| 珍爱 | zhēn'ài | to cherish |
| 袖口 | xiùkǒu | cuff |
Questions about 袖珍
What does 袖珍 mean?
袖珍 (xiùzhēn) means "pocket-sized; pocket (book etc)" and is used as a adjective.
How do you write 袖珍?
袖珍 is made of 2 characters: 袖 (10 strokes), 珍 (9 strokes). That is 19 strokes in total.
Is 袖珍 an HSK word?
Yes. 袖珍 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
Can 袖珍 describe people or places, not just objects?
Yes. You can say 袖珍国家 (xiùzhēn guójiā) for a tiny country or 袖珍小狗 for a toy-sized dog. It sounds neutral to slightly cute and stresses small scale.
What is the difference between 袖珍 and 小 (xiǎo)?
小 is the everyday word for small and works almost anywhere. 袖珍 is more specific and a bit more formal. It suggests something deliberately made compact or a miniature version of a normal-sized thing.