Definitions

(noun) riddle; puzzle

Etymology

Bewitching  words  also provides the pronunciation

About

The traditional form 謎 is a phono-semantic compound: the speech radical 言 (yán) on the left indicates its connection to language and verbal expression, while the phonetic component 迷 (mí) on the right provides the pronunciation. In the simplified form 谜, the radical is written as 讠, but the structure remains the same. The character’s core meaning is a riddle, a verbal puzzle or enigma designed to challenge the intellect. This extends metaphorically to any mysterious phenomenon or complex situation that resists immediate explanation.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个语很难猜。

Zhège míyǔ hěn nán cāi.

This riddle is very hard to guess.

孩子们都喜欢猜语。

Háizimen dōu xǐhuān cāi míyǔ.

Children all like guessing riddles.

人生就像一个大

Rénshēng jiù xiàng yīgè dà mí.

Life is like a big mystery.

科学家正在解开宇宙之

Kēxuéjiā zhèngzài jiěkāi yǔzhòu zhī mí.

Scientists are unraveling the mysteries of the universe.

这个案件至今仍是一个团。

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

Tā de wéixiào bèihòu cángzhe shēnshēn de mí.

Behind her smile lies a deep enigma.

真相被层层的所掩盖,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.