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迷惑 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
迷惑míhuòto puzzleHSK 7, v, 21 strokes, rank #5121, Very Hard
迷惑míhuòto confuseHSK 7, v, 21 strokes, rank #5121, Very Hard
迷惑míhuòto baffleHSK 7, v, 21 strokes, rank #5121, Very Hard
míhuò(mi2huo4) T2
  1. 1to puzzle
  2. 2to confuse
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March 24, 2026

迷惑míhuò(mi2huo4)

迷惑 (mi2 huo5) means to puzzle, confuse, or baffle someone. It is used in contexts where something is unclear or perplexing, often causing uncertainty or misunderstanding. This word can relate to situations ranging from complex problems to ambiguous statements.

Strokes21Frequency#5121DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being '迷惑' often reflects a deeper philosophical notion of uncertainty and the complexity of life, which is frequently addressed in literature and conversations about fate and destiny.

Memory Tip

Think of 迷 (mi) as a maze, which confuses you, and 惑 (huo) as 'what' – a question you might ask when you're puzzled. Together, they depict being lost in a maze of confusion.

Meanings of 迷惑

míhuò(mi2huo4)
1to puzzle
2to confuse
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 迷惑

迷惑Simplified
21Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#5121Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 迷惑

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Podcast: 迷惑

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AI Study Notes for 迷惑

Quick Contrast

困惑 (kùnhuò) - use 迷惑 (míhuò) when the confusion is due to external circumstances, while困惑 (kùnhuò) implies an internal struggle with understanding.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 迷惑 with similar words like 困惑 (kùn huò), which also means confusion but has a slightly different nuance. 迷惑 is more informal and may be used in both spoken and written language, but it’s best suited for situations involving personal confusion or misunderstanding.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 迷惑 connects with other advanced vocabulary relating to emotions and cognition. Students should focus on using it in complex sentences to express nuanced feelings of confusion in different contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 迷惑 with 糊涂 (hú tú), which implies being muddled or confused in a less serious way. For example, saying '我觉得他很迷惑' (I think he is very confused) might be better expressed as '我觉得他有点糊涂' for a lighter tone.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 迷惑

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Component Characters

迷míto bewilder
HSK 59 strokes辶
View full entry
惑huòto confuse
12 strokes心
View full entry

How to say to puzzle in Chinese

“to puzzle” in Chinese is迷惑míhuò

迷惑 (mi2 huo5) means to puzzle, confuse, or baffle someone. It is used in contexts where something is unclear or perplexing, often causing uncertainty or misunderstanding. This word can relate to situations ranging from complex problems to ambiguous statements.

When to use 迷惑

Be careful not to confuse 迷惑 with similar words like 困惑 (kùn huò), which also means confusion but has a slightly different nuance. 迷惑 is more informal and may be used in both spoken and written language, but it’s best suited for situations involving personal confusion or misunderstanding.

迷惑 or something close to it

困惑 (kùnhuò) - use 迷惑 (míhuò) when the confusion is due to external circumstances, while困惑 (kùnhuò) implies an internal struggle with understanding.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 迷惑 with 糊涂 (hú tú), which implies being muddled or confused in a less serious way. For example, saying '我觉得他很迷惑' (I think he is very confused) might be better expressed as '我觉得他有点糊涂' for a lighter tone.

Write 迷惑

迷
惑

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

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Grammar Patterns of 迷惑

迷惑 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 3 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

她态度有些奇怪，让我____不解。

There was something strange in her attitude which mystified me.

Example Sentences for 迷惑 (12)

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1
她态度有些奇怪，让我迷惑不解。

tā tài dù yǒu xiē qí guài， ， ràng wǒ mí huò bù。

There was something strange in her attitude which mystified me.
2
“我曾经和你一样迷惑，”她意味深长地说。

“ “ wǒ zēng jīng hé nǐ yī yàng mí，” huò ，” tā yì wèi shēn cháng。

"I was once as bewildered as you are," she said meaningfully.
3
但是客观类型的题很容易使人上当并且答案迷惑人.

dàn shì kè guān lèi xíng de tí hěn róng yì shǐ rén shàng dāng bìng qiě dá àn mí huò rén.

But the objective type can be very tricky and the answer sheets confusing.
4
我被灵活复佑的姓别与年龄索引迷惑住了.

wǒ bèi líng huó fù yòu de xìng bié yǔ nián líng suǒ yǐn mí huò zhù le.

I'm perplexed by the flexible complex index of sex and age.
5
他迷惑不解地摇了摇头。

tā mí huò bù jiě dì yáo le yáo tóu。

He shook his head confusedly.
6
卡罗琳辨别出了真金的价值, 知道那种炫耀的铁渣只有迷惑人的外表.

kǎ luó lín biàn bié chū le zhēn jīn de jià zhí, , zhī dào nà zhǒng xuàn yào de tiě zhā zhī yǒu mí huò rén de wài.

Caroline felt the value of the true ore, and knew the deception of the flashy dross.
7
这个复杂的数学题让我感到非常迷惑。

Zhège fùzá de shùxuétí ràng wǒ gǎndào fēicháng míhuò.

This complex math problem puzzles me greatly.
8
他的话语有时令人迷惑，无法判断他的真实意图。

Tā de huàyǔ yǒushí lìng rén míhuò, wúfǎ pànduàn tā de zhēnshí yìtú.

His words sometimes puzzle people, making it hard to discern his true intentions.
9
这些矛盾的信息让我感到很迷惑，不知道该相信哪一个。

Zhèxiē máodùn de xìnxī ràng wǒ gǎndào hěn míhuò, bù zhīdào gāi xiāngxìn nǎ yī gè.

These contradictory pieces of information puzzle me, and I don't know which one to believe.
10
在这场辩论中，他的观点变化无常，常常让对手感到迷惑。

Zài zhè chǎng biànlùn zhōng, tā de guāndiǎn biànhuà wúcháng, chángcháng ràng duìshǒu gǎndào míhuò.

In this debate, his constantly changing opinions often puzzle his opponents.
11
科学家们对于这种神秘现象感到迷惑，至今无法给出合理的解释。

Kēxuéjiāmen duìyú zhè zhǒng shénmì xiànxiàng gǎndào míhuò, zhìjīn wúfǎ gěi chū hélǐ de jiěshì.

Scientists are puzzled by this mysterious phenomenon and have yet to provide a reasonable explanation.
12
他的话似乎矛盾重重，令人感到十分迷惑，不知其意何在。

Tā de huà sìhū máodùn chóngchóng, lìng rén gǎndào shífēn míhuò, bù zhī qí yì hé zài.

His words seem full of contradictions, which are very puzzling, leaving one unsure of his intentions.

Frequently Asked Questions about 迷惑

You can say '这个问题让我很迷惑' (This question puzzles me).

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