Definitions

to waste (money)
extravagant; go with fashion; not

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

Composed of the component 非 positioned above 麻, the character 靡 originally conveyed meanings related to falling, scattering, or being overthrown, as observed in early textual uses such as in the term 披靡. The element 麻 primarily functions as a phonetic indicator, while 非 contributes a semantic association with negation or divergence, aligning with the idea of dispersion. Over time, the character's usage extended to denote extravagance and waste, evident in compounds like 奢靡, and it also operated as a classical negative particle meaning "not" or "none". Its structural form, integrating these two components, has remained consistent throughout its historical employment.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这种音乐被称为之音。

Zhè zhǒng yīnyuè bèi chēng wéi mǐmǐzhīyīn.

This kind of music is called decadent music.

他的生活作风有些奢

Tā de shēnghuó zuòfēng yǒuxiē shēmí.

His lifestyle is somewhat extravagant and wasteful.

这种款式曾经风全国。

Zhè zhǒng kuǎnshì céngjīng fēngmǐ quánguó.

This style was once all the rage across the nation.

费公款的官员受到了惩处。

Mífèi gōngkuǎn de guānyuán shòudàole chéngchǔ.

The officials who squandered public funds were punished.

他们然从风,盲目追随潮流。

Tāmen mǐ rán cóng fēng, mángmù zhuīsuí cháoliú.

They followed the trend blindly, slavishly following the fashion.

战争的耗让国家经济陷入困境。

Zhànzhēng de hàomí ràng guójiā jīngjì xiànrù kùnjìng.

The enormous consumption of war plunged the country's economy into difficulty.

这座城市充斥着奢享乐的风气。

Zhè zuò chéngshì chōngchì zhe shēmí xiǎnglè de fēngqì.

This city is filled with an atmosphere of extravagant pleasure-seeking.

他在个人享乐上的费令人咋舌。

Tā zài gèrén xiǎnglè shàng de mífèi lìng rén zéshé.

The profligacy of his personal pleasures is staggering.