About
The character "混" is structured with the water radical on the left and the component "昆" on the right, which historically functioned as a phonetic element while also reinforcing an early association with the convergence or turbidity of water. Its original meaning centered on the physical blending of liquids, such as streams mingling, which gradually extended to describe the mixing of any elements in a general sense. Over time, this core concept of intermingling evolved to encompass abstract notions of disorder and confusion, evident in compound words like "混乱" for chaos, and further developed metaphorical applications implying deceitful integration into a group or a careless approach to life, as seen in expressions such as "混日子". This semantic expansion shifted the character from primarily denoting concrete physical processes to capturing more nuanced social and psychological states, all while its compositional form has remained unchanged.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他把水和酒混合了。
这个地方很混乱。
他整天在街上混日子。
别把不同的问题混在一起。
他试图混入人群中。
这种混合物不容易分离。
在混乱中，他失去了方向。
他靠混关系拿到了那份工作。