谜

謎

mèi, mí

讠 + 迷

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

mí (noun) riddle; puzzle

Etymology

Bewitching 迷 words 讠; 迷 also provides the pronunciation

About

谜 (mí) is the simplified form of traditional 謎. It is a phono-semantic compound: the left side is the speech radical 言, simplified to 讠, indicating that the word relates to language and discourse. The right side, 迷 (mí), provides the pronunciation and also carries the meaning "to bewilder" or "confuse". Thus, the character's structure suggests "bewitching words" , a riddle. Its primary sense is a verbal puzzle or enigmatic question designed to test cleverness, and it can also refer to any deep mystery, unexplained phenomenon, or perplexing situation.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个谜语很难猜。

Zhège míyǔ hěn nán cāi.

This riddle is very hard to guess.

孩子们都喜欢猜谜语。

Háizimen dōu xǐhuān cāi míyǔ.

Children all like guessing riddles.

人生就像一个大谜。

Rénshēng jiù xiàng yīgè dà mí.

Life is like a big mystery.

科学家正在解开宇宙之谜。

Kēxuéjiā zhèngzài jiěkāi yǔzhòu zhī mí.

Scientists are unraveling the mysteries of the universe.

这个案件至今仍是一个谜团。

Zhège ànjiàn zhìjīn réng shì yīgè mítuán.

This case remains a mystery to this day.

他写了一本关于历史谜题的书。

Tā xiěle yī běn guānyú lìshǐ mítí de shū.

He wrote a book about historical puzzles.

她的微笑背后藏着深深的谜。

Tā de wéixiào bèihòu cángzhe shēnshēn de mí.

Behind her smile lies a deep enigma.

真相被层层的谜所掩盖，难以探寻。

Zhēnxiàng bèi céng céng de mí suǒ yǎngài, nányǐ tànxún.

The truth is concealed by layers of mystery, making it hard to explore.

Related Characters

Component: 讠

Component: 迷

谜