迷めい信しん

め

い

し

ん

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

noun

superstition; superstitious belief

Refers to irrational beliefs not based on science or reason, often involving luck, omens, or supernatural forces.

彼かれは迷めい信しんをまったく信しんじない。
He doesn't believe in superstitions at all.
日本にほんにはたくさんの迷めい信しんがある。
There are many superstitions in Japan.

See all 25 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉は迷めい信しんだ〈something〉 is just a superstition
夜よるに口くち笛ぶえを吹ふくと蛇へびが来くるというのは迷めい信しんだ。
The idea that whistling at night calls snakes is just a superstition.
迷めい信しんを信しんじるto believe in a superstition
祖そ母ぼは今いまでも古ふるい迷めい信しんを信しんじている。
My grandmother still believes in old superstitions.
迷めい信しんにとらわれるto be bound by superstition
彼かれは迷めい信しんにとらわれて新あたらしい家いえに引ひっ越こすのをためらった。
He hesitated to move into the new house, held back by superstition.
迷めい信しんを打うち破やぶるto break down / overcome a superstition
科か学がくの発はっ展てんは多おおくの迷めい信しんを打うち破やぶってきた。
The development of science has broken down many superstitions.

Kanji

迷astray, be perplexed, in doubt
信faith, truth, fidelity

Related words

俗ぞく信しん
俗信 is a more neutral, academic term for folk beliefs handed down through tradition, while 迷信 carries a negative connotation of irrationality.
ジンクス
迷信 is the general word for 'superstition' covering broad folk beliefs, while ジンクス usually points to one specific, often personal, luck-related belief.

Don't confuse with

迷めい妄もう
迷妄 is a literary word for a deluded, mistaken belief in general, whereas 迷信 specifically means a superstition tied to luck or omens.

Word family

迷めい信しん家か
superstitious person
迷めい信しん深ぶかい
superstitious

Etymology

A late-nineteenth-century Japanese term used to translate English superstition, formed from 迷, “misguided,” and 信, “belief.” Its earliest recorded uses referred both to mistaken belief generally and to irrational beliefs or customs.