瞑
sleep, dark, close eyes
Readings
On'yomi
- メイ
- ベン
- ミョウ
- ミン
- メン
Kun'yomi
- めい.する
- つぶ.る
- つむ.る
- くら.い
Meaning
瞑 centers on the state of closed eyes, whether in sleep or in darkness. The idea of darkness is a natural extension of shutting out light by closing the eyes.
Most common words using 瞑
- 瞑想めいそう
meditation; contemplation
- 瞑るつぶるN1
to close (one's eyes); to shut
- 以て瞑すべしもってめいすべし
being so content that one would not mind dying; one can now rest in peace; one ought to be contented with what has been accomplished
- 眩瞑げんめい
dizziness
- 瞑すめいす
to close one's eyes; to sleep
- 瞑するめいする
to close one's eyes; to sleep
- 瞑想家めいそうか
meditator; meditation practitioner
- 瞑想法めいそうほう
meditation method; contemplation technique
- 瞑想生活めいそうせいかつ
life of meditation; contemplative life
- 瞑氛めいふん
gloomy feeling; dark sign
- 瞑目めいもく
closing one's eyes
- 瞑目合掌めいもくがっしょう
closing one's eyes and joining one's hands together in prayer
- 瞑眩めいけん
dizziness
- 瞑色めいしょく
evening twilight
Study
Etymology
瞑 combines 目 (eye) with 冥 (dark, obscure), suggesting eyes that are closed or in darkness. The component 冥 likely contributes both sound and the idea of dimness.
Meaning mnemonic
The eye 目 is beside 冥, a shape associated with darkness. Picture your eyes closing and everything going dark as you fall asleep.
Reading mnemonic
For メイ, imagine closing your eyes on a bright May day to take a nap: May -> メイ, and the darkness behind your eyelids helps you sleep.