Definitions

míng (adjective) dark; obscure
míng (adjective) deep; profound
míng (noun) the underworld; netherworld
míng (adjective) stupid; foolish

Etymology

Depicts two hands (𠬜) opening a woman's legs with a baby's head protruding out of it. Based on the original meaning "to give birth to a child", now written as . The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

About

冥 is composed of three vertically stacked components: the covering radical 冖 at the top, the character 日 (sun) in the middle, and 六 (six) at the base. This structure, placing the sun beneath a lid, visually conveys obscured light, giving the character its core meaning of darkness and the absence of illumination. This association with profound darkness naturally extended into spiritual and mythological realms, where 冥 came to denote the underworld or the afterlife. Consequently, it is frequently used in terminology related to ghosts, hell, and the deeply mysterious.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
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)
Seal etymology image
Seal Xin dynasty (9-23 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

王星是太阳系中的一颗矮行星。

Míngwángxīng shì tàiyángxì zhōng de yī kē ǎi xíngxīng.

Pluto is a dwarf planet in the solar system.

他在思苦想这个问题。

Tā zài míngsī kǔxiǎng zhège wèntí.

He is pondering deeply over this problem.

传说中界是死者的世界。

Chuánshuō zhōng míngjiè shì sǐzhě de shìjiè.

In legends, the underworld is the world of the dead.

夜晚的森林显得幽而神秘。

Yèwǎn de sēnlín xiǎnde yōumíng ér shénmì.

The forest at night appears dark and mysterious.

他感觉中有种力量在指引他。

Tā gǎnjué míngmíng zhōng yǒu zhǒng lìliàng zài zhǐyǐn tā.

He feels that there is some force guiding him in the unseen.

寿是指为逝者庆祝的生日。

Míngshòu shì zhǐ wèi shìzhě qìngzhù de shēngrì.

A posthumous birthday refers to a birthday celebrated for the deceased.

器是古代墓葬中的随葬品。

Míngqì shì gǔdài mùzàng zhōng de suízàngpǐn.

Funerary objects are burial items in ancient tombs.

钞是祭祀时使用的纸钱。

Míngchāo shì jìsì shí shǐyòng de zhǐqián.

Spirit money is paper money used during sacrificial rituals.