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Kanji 微: meanings, readings, and example words.

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Kanji 微: delicate, minuteness, insignificance

Key takeaways

Kanji 微: delicate, minuteness, insignificance. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

N1

Meaning

delicateminutenessinsignificance

On reading

Kun reading

かす.か

Radical

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 微

delicate, minuteness, insignificance

Kanji structure breakdown

Structure breakdown

彳 + 攵

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

Imagine the careful steps (彳) of walking slowly and the delicate action of a light strike (攵). These tiny, precise movements represent the meaning of being 'minute' or 'faint'.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

  • 微笑びしょう

    slight smile / gentle smile

  • 微量びりょう

    tiny amount / very small quantity

  • 顕微鏡けんびきょう

    microscope

  • 微妙びみょう

    delicate / subtle / hard to decide

Kun reading

かす.か
  • 微かかすか

    faint / dim / weak / indistinct

Commonly used words

  • 微笑
    びしょう

    slight smile / gentle smile

  • 微量
    びりょう

    tiny amount / very small quantity

  • 顕微鏡
    けんびきょう

    microscope

  • 微妙
    びみょう

    delicate / subtle / hard to decide

  • 微か
    かすか

    faint / dim / weak / indistinct

Example sentences

Example 1

かすかな音が聞こえた。

Translation

I heard a faint sound.

Example 2

かすかな光が遠くに見える。

Translation

A dim light can be seen in the distance.

Example 3

彼女の笑に心が安らぐ。

Translation

Her gentle smile puts my heart at ease.

Example 4

笑を浮かべて話を聞いた。

Translation

I listened while wearing a slight smile.

Kanji 微: delicate, minuteness, insignificance | Daily Nihongo