ENGLISH
REFERENCE

min

n. · adj.
US //ˈmɪn// min
  1. 1 minute (n.)
    A1 Beginner Informal

    Stands for minute.

    Abbreviation for minute. Frequently used in informal writing, technical specifications, or on digital interfaces where space is limited.

    Example

    The recipe says to cook the pasta for 8 to 10 min until it is soft.

    Example

    The digital display indicated that the next train was due in approximately 4 min, though the platform remained largely empty.
    • min.
  2. 2 Chinese language group (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Academic

    a group of related Chinese languages spoken in Fujian province and other areas.

    A major branch of the Sinitic languages, primarily spoken in Fujian province and by the Chinese diaspora; includes varieties such as Hokkien.

    Example

    He is studying the history of the Min languages in southern China.

    Example

    Linguistic research into the Min group reveals a complex history of migration and isolation that has preserved many archaic features of Old Chinese.

  3. 3 less or smaller (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic Dialect

    a very old word for something smaller or less.

    An archaic or dialectal term meaning smaller, lower, or less in quantity or degree.

    Example

    The old poem spoke of a min amount of hope remaining.

    Example

    The scholar noted that the use of 'min' as a comparative adjective had largely vanished from the dialect by the late nineteenth century.
    • mair

Last updated June 19, 2026