冥

㝠

míng

冖 + 昗

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 娩. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

About

The character 冥 originally depicted two hands (𠬜) parting a woman's legs with a baby's head emerging, representing childbirth. Its original meaning "to give birth to a child" is now written as 娩. The current senses of darkness, dimness, and the underworld, extending to the realm of the dead and the deeply mysterious, came about through phonetic loan and are unrelated to its visual structure.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Xin dynasty (9-23 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

冥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.

他在冥思苦想这个问题。

Tā zài míngsī kǔxiǎng zhège wèntí.

He is pondering deeply over this problem.

传说中冥界是死者的世界。

Chuánshuō zhōng míngjiè shì sǐzhě de shìjiè.

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

夜晚的森林显得幽冥而神秘。

Yèwǎn de sēnlín xiǎnde yōumíng ér shénmì.

The forest at night appears dark and mysterious.

他感觉冥冥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.

冥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.

冥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.

冥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.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 冖

Component: 昗

冥