秘

祕

mì, bì

必 + 禾

Definitions

mì (adjective) secret; confidential

mì (noun) secretary

bì (noun) Peru

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 礻 represents the meaning and 必 represents the sound. Originally written as 祕. The 礻 component was later corrupted to 禾.

Semantic: 禾 Phonetic: 必

About

This phono-semantic compound combines the semantic component 禾 (grain) with the phonetic component 必 (must). Its traditional variant 祕 substitutes the 示 radical (spirit/altar), linking the character more directly to divine or sacred secrecy. The modern form uses the grain radical, evoking the careful concealment of harvests. Both variants convey the core sense of something hidden, confidential, or mysterious, forming the basis for words about secrecy and privacy.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Wu (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我知道那个秘密。

Wǒ zhīdào nàgè mìmì.

I know that secret.

她是一位秘书。

Tā shì yī wèi mìshū.

She is a secretary.

这个地方很神秘。

Zhège dìfāng hěn shénmì.

This place is very mysterious.

他保守着这个秘密。

Tā bǎoshǒu zhe zhège mìmì.

He keeps this secret.

秘方是这道菜的关键。

Mìfāng shì zhè dào cài de guānjiàn.

The secret recipe is the key to this dish.

探险队发现了神秘洞穴。

Tànxiǎn duì fāxiàn le shénmì dòngxué.

The exploration team discovered a mysterious cave.

公司的新项目处于保密状态。

Gōngsī de xīn xiàngmù chǔyú bǎomì zhuàngtài.

The company's new project is in a state of confidentiality.

这部小说充满了悬疑和秘密。

Zhè bù xiǎoshuō chōngmǎn le xuányí hé mìmì.

This novel is full of suspense and secrets.

Related Characters

Component: 必

Component: 禾

秘