Definitions

méi (noun) berry; strawberry

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 莓 is structured with the grass radical 艹 positioned above the component 每, which functions primarily as a phonetic element. Its etymology traces back to early Chinese texts where it served as a general term for various soft, small fruits often found in wild plants. Over time, the semantic range of 莓 narrowed significantly, moving from this broad category to become a specific morpheme used almost exclusively in compound words denoting particular berry varieties, such as 草莓 for strawberry or 蓝莓 for blueberry. The character's composition has remained consistent throughout its documented use, without substantive alteration to its fundamental structure.

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢吃草

Wǒ xǐhuān chī cǎoméi.

I like to eat strawberries.

是水果。

Lánméi shì shuǐguǒ.

Blueberries are fruits.

她买了些黑

Tā mǎi le xiē hēiméi.

She bought some blackberries.

这些子很新鲜。

Zhèxiē méizi hěn xīnxiān.

These berries are very fresh.

和蓝都好吃。

Cǎoméi hé lánméi dōu hǎochī.

Strawberries and blueberries are both delicious.

早上我吃了果沙拉。

Zǎoshang wǒ chī le méiguǒ shālā.

In the morning, I ate a berry salad.

这种类植物需要阳光。

Zhè zhǒng méilèi zhíwù xūyào yángguāng.

This kind of berry plant needs sunlight.

我们在森林里采摘野生

Wǒmen zài sēnlín lǐ cǎizhāi yěshēng méi.

We picked wild berries in the forest.