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March 24, 2026
谜(謎)mèi(mei4)
The character 谜 (mèi) refers to a riddle or puzzle, often used in contexts where a question or statement requires clever thinking or problem-solving. It can also imply a sense of mystery or enigma, making it common in games, literature, and cultural references.
Strokes11Radical讠Frequency#4697DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, riddles are often used during festivals, such as the Lantern Festival, where people solve riddles written on lanterns as a form of entertainment and intellectual challenge.
Memory Tip
Imagine a mysterious maze (谜) that you must solve to find your way out. The sound 'mèi' can remind you of the word 'maze,' linking the character's meaning to its pronunciation.
Meanings of 谜
mèi(mei4)
primary
1riddle
2riddle, puzzle, conundrum
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 谜
谜Simplified
謎Traditional
11Strokes
讠Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#4697Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 谜
Podcast: 谜
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AI Study Notes for 谜
Quick Contrast
谜语 (míyǔ) vs 谜 (mèi) — use 谜 when referring to the concept of a riddle in a general sense, while 谜语 specifically denotes a riddle in the form of a spoken or written statement.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a mysterious maze (谜) that you must solve to find your way out. The sound 'mèi' can remind you of the word 'maze,' linking the character's meaning to its pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Students often confuse 谜 (mèi) with similar-sounding characters. It is generally used in informal contexts, especially in games or conversations about puzzles. Be careful with tone, as mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with other meanings.
HSK Study Tips
While 谜 is not in HSK vocabulary, focusing on it can enhance your understanding of related words like 謎語 (míyǔ, riddle) and 謎題 (mítí, puzzle). Look for connections with other HSK words that involve problem-solving or questions.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, riddles are often used during festivals, such as the Lantern Festival, where people solve riddles written on lanterns as a form of entertainment and intellectual challenge.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes write 謎 (mí) instead of 谜 (mèi), confusing the traditional and simplified forms. Remember to use 谜 for simplified contexts, especially in Mainland China.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 谜
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Grammar Patterns of 谜
谜 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). 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
意大利的经济奇迹一直是个____。
The Italian economic miracle has always been a mystery.
Example Sentences for 谜 (10)
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1
意大利的经济奇迹一直是个谜。
yì dà lì de jīng jì qí jì yī zhí shì gè mí。
The Italian economic miracle has always been a mystery.
2
生命起源的确切详情仍是个谜。
shēng mìng qǐ yuán de què qiē xiáng qíng réng shì gè mí。
The precise details of the origins of life remain hidden.
3
几天之后,谜多少解开了几分.
jī tiān zhī hòu, , mí duō shǎo jiě kāi le jī.
Part of the mystery was resolved a few days later.
4
那么,该是你学会新的谜题的时候了!
nà mó, , gāi shì nǐ xué huì xīn de mí tí de shí hòu!
Then it is time for you to learn a new mystery, a new question!
5
这谜题却如同斯芬克斯的问题, 想找答案难上加难!
zhè mí tí què rú tóng sī fēn kè sī de wèn tí, , xiǎng zhǎo dá àn nán shàng jiā!
As the puzzle , like the Sphinx, it is difficult to answer!
6
让我给你们一些关于谜题的历史.
ràng wǒ gěi nǐ mén yī xiē guān yú mí tí de lì shǐ.
Let me give you some history about a conundrum.
7
不高不矮, 黑发? 可能在玩猜谜游戏?
bù gāo bù ǎi, , hēi? fā ? kě néng zài wán cāi mí?
Someone average height, dark hair? Or perhaps doing a puzzle?
8
这个谜语孩子猜不出来.
zhè gè mí yǔ hái zǐ cāi bù chū lái.
The riddle couldn't be solved by the child.
9
我猜不出这个谜语, 我认输了.
wǒ cāi bù chū zhè gè mí yǔ, , wǒ rèn shū.
I can't answer that puzzle; I give up.
10
他终于猜出了这个谜语.
tā zhōng yú cāi chū le zhè gè mí yǔ.
He found out the riddle at last.
Cultural Notes for 谜
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, riddles are often used during festivals, such as the Lantern Festival, where people solve riddles written on lanterns as a form of entertainment and intellectual challenge.
Word Family of 谜
Words Containing This Character8
谜mèiriddle謎
谜团mítuánriddle謎團
谜底mídǐanswer to a riddle謎底
谜语míyǔriddle謎語
字谜letter puzzle字謎
灯谜riddles written on lanterns (e.g. for the Lantern Festival at the end of Chinese New Year)燈謎
哑谜puzzle啞謎
打哑谜to talk in riddles打啞謎
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 谜 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 谜
They are variants of the same word; 謎 is the traditional character, while 谜 is simplified.
It's more common in informal contexts, so it's best to avoid it in formal writing unless discussing literature.
Yes, there are various types of riddles, including wordplay and logic puzzles, often categorized by their difficulty.
