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March 24, 2026
冥(㝠)míng(ming2)
The character 冥 (míng) primarily means dark or gloomy, often associated with night or a lack of light. It can also refer to something deep, as in profound thoughts, or to the underworld, reflecting its use in contexts related to death and the afterlife. The nuance suggests a sense of mystery or the unknown.
Strokes10Radical冖Frequency#7060DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of the underworld and the afterlife is significant, particularly during festivals like the Qingming Festival, where families honor their ancestors. The use of 冥 in expressions related to death reflects this cultural importance.
Memory Tip
Imagine a dark, gloomy night where the only sound is the echo of your footsteps in a deep forest. The character 冥 looks like a person peering into the darkness (the top part resembles a roof, and the bottom a person looking down), helping you remember 'dark' and 'deep'. The sound 'míng' can be linked to 'mystery' or 'midnight'.
Meanings of 冥
míng(ming2)
1dark, gloomy, night; deep
2stupid
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 冥
冥Simplified
㝠Traditional
10Strokes
冖Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 冥
Podcast: 冥
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AI Study Notes for 冥
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a dark, gloomy night where the only sound is the echo of your footsteps in a deep forest. The character 冥 looks like a person peering into the darkness (the top part resembles a roof, and the bottom a person looking down), helping you remember 'dark' and 'deep'. The sound 'míng' can be linked to 'mystery' or 'midnight'.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 冥 with 明 (míng), which means bright or clear. This character is more commonly used in literary contexts or discussions about philosophy and the afterlife, so it may be less appropriate in everyday conversation. Pay attention to the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
While 冥 is not in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance your comprehension of more advanced texts, especially those discussing philosophical or literary themes. Focus on recognizing its context in literature and discussions of the afterlife, which may appear in higher-level reading materials.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of the underworld and the afterlife is significant, particularly during festivals like the Qingming Festival, where families honor their ancestors. The use of 冥 in expressions related to death reflects this cultural importance.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 冥 with 明 (míng) due to their similar sounds, leading to misinterpretations. For example, saying '我觉得这个地方很明' (Wǒ juédé zhège dìfāng hěn míng) instead of '冥' would incorrectly imply brightness rather than darkness.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 冥
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Grammar Patterns of 冥
冥 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
这是个静心____想的好地方。
It is a place of quiet contemplation.
Example Sentences for 冥 (4)
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1
这是个静心冥想的好地方。
zhè shì gè jìng xīn míng xiǎng de hǎo dì fāng。
It is a place of quiet contemplation.
2
冥冥之中，他注定会成为摇滚乐的救世主。
míng míng zhī zhōng， ， tā zhù dìng huì chéng wéi yáo gǔn lè de jiù shì。
He was somehow destined to become a rock messiah.
3
冥蒙藏太古, 寒气积阴深.
míng mēng cáng tài gǔ, , hán qì jī yīn.
Offerings in Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Swire, Hanqi deep plot Yam.
4
他那苦行僧似的瘦脸反映出他正在冥思苦索.
tā nà kǔ háng sēng sì de shòu liǎn fǎn yìng chū tā zhèng zài míng sī kǔ suǒ.
His thin, ascetic face mirrows an intensity of thought.
Cultural Notes for 冥
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of the underworld and the afterlife is significant, particularly during festivals like the Qingming Festival, where families honor their ancestors. The use of 冥 in expressions related to death reflects this cultural importance.
Word Family of 冥
Words Containing This Character18
冥míngdark
冥王星Pluto (dwarf planet)
冥想to meditate
冥冥之中in the unseen world of spirits
幽冥dark
冥府hell
苦思冥想to rack one's brains
冥思苦想to rack one's brains
冥币false paper money burned as an offering to the dead冥幣
冥顽不灵stupid冥頑不靈
冥顽stupid冥頑
冥婚posthumous or ghost marriage (in which at least one of the bride and groom is dead)
冥王the king of hell
冥福afterlife happiness
冥钞false paper money burned as an offering to the dead冥鈔
杳冥dim and dusky
冥思苦索to mull over (idiom)
风雨晦冥conditions of extreme adversity (idiom)風雨晦冥
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 冥 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 冥
Common phrases include 冥想 (míngxiǎng), meaning to meditate, and 冥界 (míngjiè), referring to the underworld.
It is more commonly found in literary or philosophical texts rather than in everyday conversation.
Connect 'míng' with the word 'mystery,' as both involve the idea of darkness or the unknown.
