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verb HSK 5
mǐn
to purse (lips) · to smooth (hair) · to sip · to press together

Meaning

抿 describes the action of pressing something together or smoothing it down, most commonly used for pursing one's lips or smoothing back hair with the hand. When referring to drinking, it means to take a small sip, keeping the lips pressed together.

Usage

This verb is most frequently used in literary or descriptive contexts. The most common usage is 抿嘴 (to purse one's lips) or 抿嘴一笑 (to smile with pursed lips), which describes a subtle, restrained smile. It can also describe smoothing hair back with wet hands. When used for drinking, it suggests taking a delicate, small sip rather than gulping.

Examples

  1. 01
    她抿嘴一笑，没有说话。
    Tā mǐn zuǐ yī xiào, méiyǒu shuōhuà.
    She smiled with pursed lips and said nothing.
  2. 02
    他抿了一口茶，慢慢品味着。
    Tā mǐn le yī kǒu chá, mànmàn pǐnwèi zhe.
    He took a sip of tea and savored it slowly.

Common collocations

  • 抿嘴一笑
    mǐn zuǐ yī xiào
    to smile with pursed lips
  • 抿了一口
    mǐn le yī kǒu
    to take a sip
  • 抿着嘴唇
    mǐn zhe zuǐchún
    pursing one's lips
  • 把头发抿到耳后
    bǎ tóufa mǐn dào ěr hòu
    to smooth hair behind the ears

Origin

The character combines 扌(hand radical) with 民 (mín, people), originally suggesting a hand pressing or smoothing action. The phonetic component 民 provides the pronunciation.

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