惟妙惟肖
wéi miào wéi xiào
lifelike; remarkably true to life
Character by character
惟wéi
so
so
妙miào
wonderful
wonderful
惟wéi
so
so
肖xiào
alike
alike
Example
他模仿班主任说话惟妙惟肖，全班同学都笑了。
His impression of the class teacher was spot on, and the whole class burst out laughing.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
Of portraits, carvings and imitations. 肖 is xiào here (to resemble, as in 肖像), not the surname Xiāo. Also written 维妙维肖.
Learn this in Lesson 93 · HSK 6–7: 两幅北宋长卷 (Two Northern Song scrolls)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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