秒 (miǎo) - Second (unit of time) & a very short moment

秒Tone 3

miǎo ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical: 禾

伦妙

秒 · miǎo

Second (unit of time);

a very short moment;

in geometry, a second of arc (1/60 of a minute).

Second (unit of time)a very short momentin geometry, a second of arc (1/60 of

Usage highlights

Second handSplit secondSecondsCountdown secondsMillisecondMicrosecond

Synonyms

  • 刹那— Instant; moment (from Buddhist Sanskrit)
  • 瞬间— Instant; moment
  • 顷刻— Moment; instant

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Wait one second (等一秒钟).
  • The race was decided in a split second (比赛在瞬间决定).
  • The angle is 30 degrees, 15 minutes, and 10 seconds (角度是30度15分10秒).
  • He arrived just a second later (他晚了一秒到达).

Collocations

  • Second hand(秒针)
  • Split second(分秒)
  • Seconds(秒钟)
  • Countdown seconds(倒计时秒)
  • Millisecond(毫秒)
  • Microsecond(微秒)

Idioms

  • Every second counts(争分夺秒)
  • Not a second to lose(分秒必争)
  • In the blink of an eye(一秒钟之内)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Derived from the concept of the smallest grain or unit, originally referring to the tip of a plant ear, then extended to mean the smallest division of time.
  • In modern usage, heavily associated with precision, technology, and the fast pace of contemporary life.
  • Used in both temporal and angular measurements, reflecting its role in scientific contexts.

FAQ