How to Write 渑 (miǎn) — Meaning “Mian (name of a river).”

Picture a river (氵) where a toad (黾) is swimming. The toad is saying its name "Mian" as it floats along. This links the sound miǎn to the image of a toad in water.

Write the three-dot water radical first, then the right part 黾. In 黾, first draw the square top (like 口), then the bottom part which looks like 电 but without the top dot. A common mistake is making the right part too narrow — it should be about as wide as the left radical.

洁 has the right side 吉 (jí) and means "clean", while 洄 has 回 (huí) and means "to swirl back". 渑 uses 黾 (miǎn) on the right and appears only in place names like 渑池. Visually, 渑's right side has a square top and a bottom similar to 电, which makes it distinct.

渑 is not a common character and is mainly found in the place name 渑池 (Mianchi) in Henan province. It also appears in the historical phrase 渑池之会, referring to a famous diplomatic meeting from the Warring States period. Unless you study Chinese geography or history, you will rarely see this character.

Common words containing 渑 include: 渑池 (miǎn chí) — Mianchi (a place in Henan, China).; 渑水 (miǎn shuǐ) — Mian River.; 渑池之会 (miǎn chí zhī huì) — The Meeting of Mianchi (a historical event)..