Definitions

mèi (noun) charm; fascination
mèi (verb) to charm; to bewitch
mèi (noun) demon; evil spirit

Etymology ideographic

A forest  demon  also provides the pronunciation

About

The character for "charm" or "demon", pronounced mèi, originates from the traditional form 鬽, which itself was an ancient variant combining the semantic component 鬼 (ghost, spirit) with 彡, a component often denoting pattern or appearance, to signify a specific type of spectral entity. This was later standardized as 魅, where 鬼 remains to indicate its supernatural category, while the phonetic and semantic element 未 (not yet) was incorporated, possibly hinting at something obscure or not fully manifest. Over time, the character's meaning extended from its original concrete sense of a mountain ghost or goblin to encompass the abstract, captivating power of attraction and enchantment that such a being was thought to possess.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

她的笑容很有力。

Tā de xiàoróng hěn yǒu mèilì.

Her smile is very charming.

这座城市有着独特的力。

Zhè zuò chéngshì yǒu zhe dútè de mèilì.

This city has unique charm.

那灯光制造出惑的气氛。

Nà dēngguāng zhìzào chū mèihuò de qìfēn.

That lighting creates a bewitching atmosphere.

他的音乐力吸引了无数粉丝。

Tā de yīnyuè mèilì xīyǐn le wúshù fěnsī.

The charm of his music attracted countless fans.

月光下,湖面上泛起神秘的影。

Yuèguāng xià, húmiàn shàng fàn qǐ shénmì de mèiyǐng.

Under the moonlight, mysterious phantoms ripple on the lake surface.

这款香水散发着迷人的力。

Zhè kuǎn xiāngshuǐ sànfā zhe mírén de mèilì.

This perfume exudes charming allure.

艺术的力在于它能触动心灵。

Yìshù de mèilì zàiyú tā néng chùdòng xīnlíng.

The charm of art lies in its ability to touch the heart.

尽管时代变迁,经典文学的力永不褪色。

Jǐnguǎn shídài biànqiān, jīngdiǎn wénxué de mèilì yǒng bù tuìsè.

Despite the changes of times, the charm of classic literature never fades.