The compound word 迷茫 (mímáng) is formed by combining two semantically related characters: 迷 (mí), meaning "lost", "confused", or "bewildered", and 茫 (máng), meaning "vast", "boundless", or "indistinct". Together, they create a vivid metaphorical image of being spiritually or psychologically lost in a vast, foggy expanse where direction and clarity are absent. This formation follows a common pattern in Chinese where two near-synonyms are paired to intensify and nuance the abstract concept, in this case, conveying a profound state of uncertainty, disorientation, and lack of purpose.