湄

méi

氵 + 眉

Definitions

méi (literary) shore; coast; bank

Etymology phono-semantic

water

Semantic: 氵 Phonetic: 眉

About

湄 is a phono-semantic compound character: the left-side radical 氵 (water) indicates the meaning, and the right-side component 眉 (eyebrow) provides the phonetic cue. It designates the water's brink, the shoreline or bank, the transitional margin where land and water meet, often described as the line where vegetation touches the water. While phonetic, 眉 also visually evokes a curved fringe, mirroring the contour of a shoreline. The character appears mainly in classical literature and geographical descriptions, and its meaning remains strictly topographical, never developing broader metaphorical uses.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

湄公河很长。

Měigōng hé hěn cháng.

The Mekong River is very long.

我们看到了湄公河。

Wǒmen kàn dào le Měigōng hé.

We saw the Mekong River.

湄公河流经六个国家。

Měigōng hé liú jīng liù gè guójiā.

The Mekong River flows through six countries.

河湄长满了青草。

Hé méi zhǎng mǎn le qīngcǎo.

The riverbank is covered with green grass.

她在水湄等待朋友。

Tā zài shuǐ méi děngdài péngyou.

She waits for her friend at the water's edge.

湄公河三角洲物产丰富。

Měigōng hé sānjiǎo zhōu wùchǎn fēngfù.

The Mekong River Delta has abundant products.

这座桥梁连接湄公河两岸。

Zhè zuò qiáoliáng liánjiē Měigōng hé liǎng àn.

This bridge connects both banks of the Mekong River.

湄岸的风景非常优美。

Méi àn de fēngjǐng fēicháng yōuměi.

The scenery on the riverbank is very beautiful.

Related Characters

Component: 氵

Component: 眉

湄