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眯 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
眯míto blind (as with dust)HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 目, rank #19028, Very Hard
眯míTaiwan pr. [mǐ]HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 目, rank #19028, Very Hard
眯míto narrow one's eyesHSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 目, rank #19028, Very Hard
眯míto squintHSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 目, rank #19028, Very Hard
眯míto squint, to narrow the eyes; blindnessHSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 目, rank #19028, Very Hard
眯míTaiwan pr. [mi3]HSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, radical 目, rank #19028, Very Hard
眯mí(dialect) to take a napHSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, radical 目, rank #19028, Very Hard
眯mīto blind (as with dust)HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 目, rank #19028, Very Hard
眯mīTaiwan pr. [mǐ]HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 目, rank #19028, Very Hard
眯mīto narrow one's eyesHSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 目, rank #19028, Very Hard
眯mīto squintHSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 目, rank #19028, Very Hard
眯mīto squint, to narrow the eyes; blindnessHSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 目, rank #19028, Very Hard
眯mīTaiwan pr. [mi3]HSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, radical 目, rank #19028, Very Hard
眯mī(dialect) to take a napHSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, radical 目, rank #19028, Very Hard
mī(mi1)
primary
 T1
  1. 1to blind (as with dust)
  2. 2Taiwan pr. [mǐ]
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

眯(瞇)mī(mi1)

The character 眯 (mī) primarily means to narrow one's eyes or to squint, often in response to bright light or fatigue. It can also refer to the act of blinding someone temporarily, such as with dust. In some dialects, it can colloquially mean to take a nap, showcasing its versatility in both literal and figurative contexts.

Strokes11Radical目Frequency#19028DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Taiwan, the pronunciation of 眯 can vary, which reflects the rich diversity of regional dialects within Mandarin. Squinting in bright sunlight is a common experience in many parts of China, especially during the hot summer months.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person squinting at the bright sun, their eyes forming a narrow slit. The character 眯 has the 'eye' radical (目) on the left, emphasizing the connection to vision and sight. Think of 'mī' sounding like 'me,' as in 'me squinting at the sun.'

Meanings of 眯

mī(mi1)
primary
1to blind (as with dust)
2Taiwan pr. [mǐ]
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 眯

眯Simplified
瞇Traditional
11Strokes
目Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#19028Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7HSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 眯

JasonAmy

Podcast: 眯

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 眯

Quick Contrast

眯 (mī) vs 眨 (zhǎ) — choose 眯 for squinting or narrowing eyes, while 眨 refers specifically to blinking.

Usage Notes

When using 眯, it's important to note that it can have a casual or informal tone when referring to napping. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar sounding words like '米' (mǐ, rice), so ensure context is clear. The verb is typically used in informal conversation rather than formal writing.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 眯 is connected to other advanced vocabulary related to vision and perception. Students should focus on its nuanced meanings and practice differentiating it from other similar verbs. Understanding context will be crucial for proper usage.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 眯 with 迷 (mí, to be lost or infatuated). For example, saying '我眯了' instead of '我迷了' can lead to misunderstandings. The correct usage depends on the intended meaning, so pay close attention to context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 眯

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Etymology of 眯

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 目 represents the meaning and 米 represents the sound. Simplified form of 瞇.

Memory Hint

eye

Semantic (meaning)目
+
Phonetic (sound)米
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 眯

Phonosemantic compound. 目 represents the meaning and 米 represents the sound. Simplified form of 瞇.

  1. 1The meaning half目 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half米 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayeye
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 眯? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 眯?

Decomposition of 眯

IDS Structure⿰目米
眯Full Character
=
目mu4
left
米Mi3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 眯?

How to say to blind (as with dust) in Chinese

“to blind (as with dust)” in Chinese is眯mí

The character 眯 (mī) primarily means to narrow one's eyes or to squint, often in response to bright light or fatigue. It can also refer to the act of blinding someone temporarily, such as with dust. In some dialects, it can colloquially mean to take a nap, showcasing its versatility in both literal and figurative contexts.

When to use 眯

When using 眯, it's important to note that it can have a casual or informal tone when referring to napping. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar sounding words like '米' (mǐ, rice), so ensure context is clear. The verb is typically used in informal conversation rather than formal writing.

眯 or something close to it

眯 (mī) vs 眨 (zhǎ) — choose 眯 for squinting or narrowing eyes, while 眨 refers specifically to blinking.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 眯 with 迷 (mí, to be lost or infatuated). For example, saying '我眯了' instead of '我迷了' can lead to misunderstandings. The correct usage depends on the intended meaning, so pay close attention to context.

Write 眯

眯

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

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Grammar Patterns of 眯

眯 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 7 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 4

Complete the Sentence

科金斯气得____起眼睛。“你认为我会告诉你？”

Coggins' eyes narrowed angrily. "You think I'd tell you?"

Example Sentences for 眯 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
科金斯气得眯起眼睛。“你认为我会告诉你？”

kē jīn sī qì dé mī qǐ yǎn jīng。“ 。“ nǐ rèn wéi wǒ huì gào sù？”

Coggins' eyes narrowed angrily. "You think I'd tell you?"
2
女孩眯起眼睛看照片。她好像近视。

nǚ hái mī qǐ yǎn jīng kàn zhào piàn。 。 tā hǎo xiàng jìn。

The girl squinted at the photograph. She seemed to be nearsighted.
3
伊夫眯着眼瞥了一下钟，看到差不多是早上7点钟。

yī fū mī zháo yǎn piē le yī xià zhōng， ， kàn dào chà bù duō shì zǎo7 shàng 7。

Eve, squinting at the clock, saw it was just on 7 a.m.
4
他眯起眼睛的样子看上去太帅了.

tā mī qǐ yǎn jīng de yàng zǐ kàn shàng qù tài shuài le.

He looks so handsome when he narrows his eyes.
5
他把枪顶肩,眯起眼睛瞄准.

tā bǎ qiāng dǐng jiān, , mī qǐ yǎn jīng miáo.

Pulling his rifle to his shoulder he squinted along the barrel.
6
强烈的阳光刺得我眯起了眼。

qiáng liè de yáng guāng cì dé wǒ mī qǐ le yǎn。

The bright sunlight made me squint.
7
在强烈阳光下她必须眯着双眼.

zài qiáng liè yáng guāng xià tā bì xū mī zháo shuāng yǎn.

In the bright sunlight she had to narrow her eyes.
8
蓝眼睛若有所思地眯了起来.

lán yǎn jīng ruò yǒu suǒ sī dì mī le qǐ lái.

The blue eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
9
亮光刺得她眯起眼睛.

liàng guāng cì dé tā mī qǐ yǎn jīng.

Her eyes squinted against the brightness.
10
我眯了眼了.

wǒ mī le yǎn le.

Something has got into my eyes.

Word Family of 眯

Compounds1
蔝
Words Containing This Character3
眯mīto squint瞇
笑眯眯beaming
眯缝to squint眯縫
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 眯 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 眯

You can say, '我在阳光下眯着眼睛' (Wǒ zài yángguāng xià mī zhe yǎnjīng), meaning 'I am squinting in the sunlight.'

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