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Kotomora

迷

astray, be perplexed, in doubt, lost, err, illusion

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 5FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • メイ

Kun'yomi

  • まよ.う

Meaning

迷 centers on losing one's way, whether physically, mentally, or morally: being lost, astray, perplexed, in doubt, or caught in illusion.

Most common words using 迷

20 of 103
  • 迷惑めいわく
    N3

    trouble; bother; annoyance; nuisance; inconvenience

  • 迷うまよう
    N3

    to lose one's way; to get lost; to go astray

  • 迷いまよい
    N3

    hesitation; bewilderment; perplexity; doubt; indecision

  • 迷子まいご
    N3

    lost child; lost person; stray child; missing child

  • 迷宮めいきゅう

    labyrinth; maze

  • 低迷ていめい
    N1

    hanging low (of clouds)

  • 迷彩めいさい

    camouflage; disguise

  • 迷路めいろ
    N1

    maze; labyrinth

  • 迷走めいそう

    straying; wandering (off course)

  • 迷信めいしん
    N2

    superstition; superstitious belief

  • 混迷こんめい
    N1

    turmoil; chaos; confusion

  • 血迷うちまよう

    to lose one's mind; to lose control of oneself

  • 迷い込むまよいこむ

    to stray into; to lose one's way (and enter); to wander into

  • 迷言めいげん

    meaningless or stupid turn of phrase that at first glance resembles a wise saying; silly saying; nonsensical proverb

  • 頑迷がんめい

    bigoted; obstinate; stubborn; pigheaded

  • はた迷惑はためいわく

    nuisance to other people; inconvenience to others

  • ありがた迷惑ありがためいわく

    unwelcome favor; unwelcome favour; misplaced kindness

  • 迷い子まよいご

    lost child; stray child

  • 迷惑行為めいわくこうい

    disruptive behaviour; harassment; abusive behaviour

  • 迷わすまよわす

    to puzzle; to perplex; to bewilder; to delude; to mislead; to fascinate

Explore all words using 迷 →

Study

Etymology

迷 combines 辶 (movement) with 米, which likely contributes the sound and suggests something like grains scattering, leading to the idea of losing direction.

Meaning mnemonic

The movement radical 辶 wraps around 米 (rice). Imagine walking while scattering rice grains, losing your path and becoming completely lost.

Reading mnemonic

For メイ, picture a lost traveler wandering through a maze: maze -> メイ, and the maze keeps them astray.