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March 24, 2026
媚mèi(mei4)
The character 媚 (mèi) refers to being attractive or charming, often in a way that is appealing to others. It can also imply the act of charming or flattering someone, frequently used in contexts involving personal relationships or social interactions. It carries a nuance of seduction or allure, particularly in romantic or aesthetic contexts.
Strokes12Radical女Frequency#15086DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of charm often intertwines with traditional views of femininity, where being charming is seen as a desirable quality in women, reflecting societal values around allure and social grace.
Memory Tip
Imagine a beautiful woman (媚) with a captivating smile, enchanting everyone around her. The left part of the character resembles a woman (女), while the right part suggests beauty or charm, reinforcing the meaning of attractiveness and allure.
Meanings of 媚
mèi(mei4)
1attractive, charming; to charm, to flatter
2flatter
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 媚
媚Simplified
12Strokes
女Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 媚
Podcast: 媚
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AI Study Notes for 媚
Quick Contrast
媚 (mèi) vs 甜 (tián) — choose 媚 when referring to charm or seduction, while 甜 emphasizes sweetness or pleasantness.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a beautiful woman (媚) with a captivating smile, enchanting everyone around her. The left part of the character resembles a woman (女), while the right part suggests beauty or charm, reinforcing the meaning of attractiveness and allure.
Usage Notes
Be cautious when using 媚 in formal contexts, as it can have a slightly negative connotation of insincerity or excessive flattery. It's commonly found in phrases like '媚眼' (mèiyǎn), meaning 'flirtatious eyes.' Remember that the fourth tone can easily be confused with other similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
While 媚 is not part of HSK vocabulary, it connects with other words related to beauty and attraction, such as 美 (měi, beautiful) and 妩媚 (wǔmèi, charming). Focus on recognizing its usage in modern contexts and media to enhance understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of charm often intertwines with traditional views of femininity, where being charming is seen as a desirable quality in women, reflecting societal values around allure and social grace.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 媚 with 美 due to their similar meanings. For instance, saying '她很美' (tā hěn měi) to mean she is charming is incorrect if you want to emphasize her charm; instead, use '她很媚' (tā hěn mèi).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 媚
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Grammar Patterns of 媚
媚 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
那是晚冬阳光明____的一天，温度只有零上几度。
It's a sunny late winter day, just a few degrees above zero.
Example Sentences for 媚 (10)
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1
那是晚冬阳光明媚的一天，温度只有零上几度。
nà shì wǎn dōng yáng guāng míng mèi de yī tiān， ， wēn dù zhī yǒu líng shàng jī。
It's a sunny late winter day, just a few degrees above zero.
2
他离开英国，去了阳光更为明媚的法国南部。
tā lí kāi yīng guó， ， qù le yáng guāng gēng wéi míng mèi de fǎ guó nán。
He left Britain for the sunnier climes of Southern France.
In Chinese culture, the concept of charm often intertwines with traditional views of femininity, where being charming is seen as a desirable quality in women, reflecting societal values around allure and social grace.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, charm is often celebrated in a more straightforward way, while in Chinese culture, it can be intertwined with subtlety and the implications of social status.
Word Family of 媚
Words Containing This Character18
明媚míngmèibright and beautiful
媚mèiflatter
妩媚lovely嫵媚
阳光明媚the sun shines brightly (idiom)陽光明媚
谄媚to flatter諂媚
娇媚flirtatious嬌媚
献媚to pander to獻媚
媚眼charming eyes
柔媚charming
媚俗kitsch
妖媚seductive
崇洋媚外to revere everything foreign and pander to overseas powers (idiom); blind worship of foreign goods and ideas
媚笑enchanting smile
春光明媚lovely spring sunshine
媚态fawning manner媚態
媚外to fawn on foreigners
谄媚者flatterer諂媚者
伊媚儿email (loanword)伊媚兒
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 明媚 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 媚
媚 (mèi) refers to charm and allure, often in a seductive context, while 美 (měi) simply means beautiful.
Yes, 媚 can be used positively, but be mindful of its connotations of flattery or insincerity.
You can say '她很媚' (tā hěn mèi) to mean 'She is very charming.'
