式微
Chinese
(meaningless particle) | tiny; minute; clandestine tiny; minute; clandestine; hide; elegant; exquisite | ||
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trad. (式微) | 式 | 微 | |
simp. #(式微) | 式 | 微 |
Etymology
Rebracketing of 式微 (OC *hljɯɡ mɯl, “meaningless initial particle + to decline”) in a verse of the Classic of Poetry:
- 式微式微,胡不歸? [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
- From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11th – 7th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
- Shì wēi shì wēi, hú bù guī? [Pinyin]
- Reduced! Reduced!
Why not return?
式微式微,胡不归? [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
Pronunciation
Verb
式微
- (literary) to decline; to wane
Synonyms
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Synonyms of 式微
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Derived terms
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