How to Write 苗 (miáo) — Meaning “seedling / sprout / Miao ethnic group”

Imagine a tiny green sprout (艹) pushing up through the soil in a rice field (田). The picture of grass growing in a field helps you remember both the shape and the meaning of "seedling."

Write the grass radical 艹 first: a horizontal line, then a short left vertical, and a slightly longer right vertical. Then write 田 with its outer box and inner cross, making sure the top of 田 touches the bottom of the grass strokes. Common mistakes include making the grass radical too wide or leaving a gap between the two parts.

The bottom of 苗 is 田 (field), while 兹 has 玄 (dark thread) below and 艻 has 力 (strength) below. In meaning, 苗 means seedling or the Miao people, whereas 兹 means "now" or "this" and 艻 refers to a type of grass. Visually, only 苗 combines grass with a field symbol.

苗 commonly appears in words like 树苗 (sapling) and 苗头 (sign or omen). It is also the name of the Miao ethnic group in 苗族, one of China's 56 official ethnicities, known for their rich traditions and silver jewelry.

Common words containing 苗 include: 树苗 (shù miáo) — Sapling / Young tree; 苗头 (miáo tou) — sign / inkling / omen; 苗族 (miáo zú) — Miao ethnic group.