微妙 (wēimiào) — subtle; delicate; nuanced
HSK 5 | adjective | delicately complex in a way that is difficult to analyze or describe
微妙 (wēimiào)
Subtle or nuanced describes something that is so delicate and complex that it requires careful attention to perceive or understand, often involving fine distinctions or sensitive dynamics.
Meanings
- [adjective] subtle; delicate; nuanced; sensitive; intricate; hard to pin down
Example Sentences
两国之间的外交关系变得微妙而复杂。 Liǎng guó zhījiān de wàijiāo guānxi biàn dé wēimiào ér fùzá. The diplomatic relations between the two countries have become subtle and complex.
他注意到她表情中一个微妙的变化，知道她不高兴了。 Tā zhùyì dào tā biǎoqíng zhōng yīgè wēimiào de biànhuà, zhīdào tā bù gāoxìngle. He noticed a subtle change in her expression and knew she was unhappy.
这首诗中语言的微妙之处很难翻译成其他语言。 Zhè shǒu shī zhōng yǔyán de wēimiào zhī chù hěn nán fānyì chéng qítā yǔyán. The subtle nuances of language in this poem are very difficult to translate into other languages.
他们之间的关系因为那件事变得微妙起来。 Tāmen zhījiān de guānxi yīnwèi nà jiàn shì biàn dé wēimiào qǐlai. The relationship between them became delicate because of that incident.
要理解这幅画的微妙之处，需要对艺术史有一定了解。 Yào lǐjiě zhè fú huà de wēimiào zhī chù, xūyào duì yìshùshǐ yǒu yīdìng liǎojiě. To understand the subtleties of this painting, one needs some knowledge of art history.
文化差异往往体现在一些微妙的社交礼仪上。 Wénhuà chāyì wǎngwǎng tǐxiàn zài yīxiē wēimiào de shèjiāo lǐyí shàng. Cultural differences are often reflected in subtle social etiquette.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 微妙变化 (wēimiào biànhuà) | subtle change |
| 微妙关系 (wēimiào guānxi) | delicate/complex relationship |
| 微妙之处 (wēimiào zhī chù) | subtlety; the subtle point(s) |
| 微妙差别 (wēimiào chābié) | subtle difference |
| 微妙平衡 (wēimiào pínghéng) | delicate balance |
| 微妙情感 (wēimiào qínggǎn) | subtle/nuanced emotions |
Usage Notes
微妙 describes things that are both small/fine (微) and exquisitely crafted or complex (妙). It captures the quality of being difficult to articulate or fully grasp -- a delicate situation, a nuanced relationship, or a subtle distinction. It often appears in literary, artistic, interpersonal, and diplomatic contexts.
微妙 has a positive or neutral tone when describing art or language (appreciating subtlety), but can suggest tension or difficulty when describing relationships or situations (the relationship became 微妙 -- i.e., awkward or fraught). Context determines the emotional weight.
Memory Hook
微 (tiny/minute) + 妙 (marvelous/ingenious) -- something so tiny and intricate that it is almost magically subtle, requiring a keen eye or mind to appreciate.