Meanings of 寐
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AI Study Notes for 寐
睡 (shuì) — use 寐 for a more literary or poetic context, while 睡 is more common in everyday speech.
While 寐 is a beautiful and expressive term, it is more formal and may come across as literary or poetic, which is important to note in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 寐而不知 (mèi ér bù zhī), meaning 'to sleep soundly and be unaware.' Be cautious with pronunciation, as it can easily be confused with similar-sounding words.
Although 寐 is not part of the HSK curriculum, it can be linked to related vocabulary about sleep, such as 睡觉 (shuìjiào) and 眠 (mián). Learners should focus on recognizing its literary usage to enhance their reading comprehension of classical texts.
Learners often confuse 寐 with 睡 (shuì), which is a more common term for sleep. For instance, saying '我昨晚寐得很好' (Wǒ zuó wǎn mèi dé hěn hǎo) is incorrect; the correct phrase would be '我昨晚睡得很好' (Wǒ zuó wǎn shuì dé hěn hǎo).
Pronunciation of 寐
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Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Etymology of 寐
A bed 爿 in a house 宀; 未 provides the pronunciation
Origin
What kind of character is 寐?
Decomposition of 寐
Parts
Which of these is part of 寐?
How to say sleep; asleep in Chinese
“sleep; asleep” in Chinese is寐
The character 寐 (mèi) means 'to sleep' or 'asleep,' often used in a literary or poetic context. It conveys a sense of deep or sound sleep, emphasizing tranquility and restfulness. While commonly understood, it is less frequently used in everyday conversation compared to more common terms for sleep.
When to use 寐
While 寐 is a beautiful and expressive term, it is more formal and may come across as literary or poetic, which is important to note in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 寐而不知 (mèi ér bù zhī), meaning 'to sleep soundly and be unaware.' Be cautious with pronunciation, as it can easily be confused with similar-sounding words.
寐 or something close to it
睡 (shuì) — use 寐 for a more literary or poetic context, while 睡 is more common in everyday speech.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 寐 with 睡 (shuì), which is a more common term for sleep. For instance, saying '我昨晚寐得很好' (Wǒ zuó wǎn mèi dé hěn hǎo) is incorrect; the correct phrase would be '我昨晚睡得很好' (Wǒ zuó wǎn shuì dé hěn hǎo).
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Practice writing 寐 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 寐
寐 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
她是一朵奇异无比的洁白的雪莲花, 是他梦____以求的花朵.
She was a wonderful white snow - flower, which he had desired infinitely.
Example Sentences for 寐 (3)
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Word Family of 寐
Words with 寐
What does 梦寐以求 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 寐
No, 寐 is more often found in literary or poetic contexts rather than in daily speech.
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