Definitions

(adjective) confused; lost; bewildered
(verb) to be crazy about; enthusiastic about
(noun) fan; enthusiast

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "迷" combines the movement radical "辶" with the phonetic component "米", creating a form that initially expressed the concrete act of losing one's path or becoming disoriented. Over time, its meaning shifted from purely physical bewilderment to include abstract states of confusion, and later expanded to convey a sense of being mentally captivated or enchanted by something. This semantic development allowed the character to acquire uses in contexts of fascination or obsession, such as referring to an ardent enthusiast, while still retaining its original connotations of going astray. The structure of the character, with the walking radical encircling the phonetic element, visually perpetuates the idea of wandering, even as its applications have grown to encompass both literal and figurative dimensions of being lost.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我 在 公园 里 路 了。

Wǒ zài gōngyuán lǐ mílù le.

I got lost in the park.

他 是 个 狂热 的 足球

Tā shì ge kuángrè de zúqiú mí.

He is a passionate soccer fan.

这个 问题 让 我 很 惑。

Zhège wèntí ràng wǒ hěn míhuò.

This question puzzles me a lot.

不要 信 那些 没有 根据 的 说法。

Búyào míxìn nàxiē méiyǒu gēnjù de shuōfǎ.

Don't superstitiously believe in those baseless claims.

这座 建筑 像 个 巨大 的 宫。

Zhè zuò jiànzhú xiàng ge jùdà de mígōng.

This building is like a huge maze.

他 曾 深深 恋 过 古典 音乐。

Tā céng shēnshēn míliàn guò gǔdiǎn yīnyuè.

He was once deeply infatuated with classical music.

过度 沉 于 网络 游戏 有害 健康。

Guòdù chénmí yú wǎngluò yóuxì yǒuhài jiànkāng.

Excessive addiction to online games is harmful to health.

这个 历史 谜团 至今 仍 未 找到 答案。

Zhège lìshǐ mítuán zhìjīn réng wèi zhǎodào dá'àn.

This historical mystery still hasn't found an answer to this day.