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禰 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
禰míone's deceased fatherzg, 18 strokes, radical 礻
mí(mi2)mi T2
  1. 1one's deceased father
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March 24, 2026

禰mí(mi2)

The character 禰 (mí) refers specifically to 'one's deceased father' in a formal and respectful context. It is often used in literary or historical texts, particularly in discussions about ancestry, genealogy, or in mourning practices. Its usage is fairly rare in modern conversations and is more likely encountered in writing.

Strokes18Radical礻
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, honoring ancestors is a significant practice, and the use of specific terms like 禰 reflects the importance placed on familial connections and respect for the deceased. This character may appear in traditional ceremonies or writings about family heritage.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'me' (mí) standing in front of a shrine, paying respects to their deceased father. The character 禰 includes the radical 禾 (grain), which symbolizes growth and lineage, linking it to family and ancestry.

Meanings of 禰

mí(mi2)
1one's deceased father
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 禰

禰Simplified
18Strokes
礻Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 禰

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AI study notes for 禰

Usage Notes

Learners might confuse 禰 with similar characters related to family. It is important to note that this term is quite formal and may not be suitable for everyday conversation. Common collocations include phrases related to mourning or discussing family lineage, such as '祭奠禰' (to pay respects to one's deceased father).

HSK Study Tips

While 禰 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding its meaning can enhance cultural knowledge, especially when studying texts related to family and respect. Focus on recognizing this character in context rather than using it actively in conversation.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 禰 with 你 (nǐ) meaning 'you', leading to misunderstandings in context. Always ensure to use 禰 specifically when discussing a deceased father to avoid confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 禰

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Etymology of 禰

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

spirit

Semantic (meaning)礻
+
Phonetic (sound)爾
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

禰 = 礻 + 爾. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 禰

IDS Structure⿰礻爾
禰Full character
=
礻shi4
left
爾er3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 禰?

How to say one's deceased father in Chinese

“one's deceased father” in Chinese is禰mí

The character 禰 (mí) refers specifically to 'one's deceased father' in a formal and respectful context. It is often used in literary or historical texts, particularly in discussions about ancestry, genealogy, or in mourning practices. Its usage is fairly rare in modern conversations and is more likely encountered in writing.

When to use 禰

Learners might confuse 禰 with similar characters related to family. It is important to note that this term is quite formal and may not be suitable for everyday conversation. Common collocations include phrases related to mourning or discussing family lineage, such as '祭奠禰' (to pay respects to one's deceased father).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 禰 with 你 (nǐ) meaning 'you', leading to misunderstandings in context. Always ensure to use 禰 specifically when discussing a deceased father to avoid confusion.

Write 禰

禰

Practice writing 禰 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 禰

Words containing this character1
祢mísurname Mi禰

Frequently asked questions about 禰

No, 禰 is rarely used in everyday conversation and is primarily found in literary or historical contexts.

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