About
The character 糜 (mí) is a phono-semantic compound. The upper component 麻 (má), meaning hemp, provides the phonetic hint, while the lower radical 米 (mǐ), meaning rice, indicates its semantic category. This structure reflects its original meaning: a thick rice gruel boiled until the grains dissolve into a paste. From this idea of food broken down through prolonged cooking, the character’s meaning extended to describe anything thoroughly ruined, decayed, or destroyed. In modern usage, it often conveys extreme waste or deterioration, as seen in words like 糜烂 (decayed) and 靡费 (extravagant waste).
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
不要吃糜烂的食物。
早晨我喜欢喝粥糜。
他经常糜费钱财。
糜子是一种常见的谷物。
奢侈的生活容易导致糜烂。
公司因管理不善而糜费严重。
虽然糜子产量高，但需要精细加工。
在微生物的作用下，有机物质逐渐糜烂分解。