Readings: メイ (Onyomi), まよ.う (Kunyomi)
Meaning: lost, astray, perplexed
The radical ⻌ (しんにょう) represents a path or movement, while the component 米 (こめ) often indicates confusion or disorder. Together, they suggest getting lost or becoming perplexed on a path.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 迷 has 9 strokes. It starts with the Shinnyo (⻌) radical, which involves drawing the left side and the bottom curve first, then the right-side components. The 米 part is drawn within the enclosure. Pay attention to the order and direction of each stroke for correct form.
Kanji Details
| Radical | ⻌ (しんにょう) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 9 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | Joyo Kanji |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- メイ (mei)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- まよ.う (mayo.u)
Common Words Using 迷
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 迷路 | めいろ | maze, labyrinth |
| 迷信 | めいしん | superstition |
| 迷宮 | めいきゅう | labyrinth, maze |
| 迷彩 | めいさい | camouflage |
| 低迷 | ていめい | slump, sluggishness |
| 迷走 | めいそう | going astray, wandering aimlessly |
| 迷妄 | めいもう | delusion, illusion |
| 迷津 | めいしん | bewilderment, moral error |
| 迷夢 | めいむ | confused dream, delusion |
| 迷蒙 | めいもう | dim, hazy, bewildered |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 迷う | まよう | to get lost, to be perplexed |
| 迷い | まよい | hesitation, perplexity, illusion |
| 道に迷う | みちにまよう | to get lost on a road |
| 迷い込む | まよいこむ | to wander into, to stray into |
| 迷い事 | まよいごと | something that causes hesitation/perplexity |
| 迷い道 | まよいみち | lost path, misleading path |
| 迷い猫 | まよいねこ | lost cat |
| 迷い犬 | まよいけん | lost dog |
| 迷子 | まいご | lost child |
| 迷わせる | まよわせる | to mislead, to cause someone to be perplexed |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 道に迷ってしまいました。
Kana: みちにまよってしまいました。
Romaji: Michi ni mayotte shimaimashita.
English: I got lost on the way.
Japanese: 彼は人生の選択に迷っている。
Kana: かれはじんせいのせんたくにまよっている。
Romaji: Kare wa jinsei no sentaku ni mayotte iru.
English: He is perplexed about his life choices.
Japanese: 森の中で迷子になった。
Kana: もりのなかでまいごになった。
Romaji: Mori no naka de maigo ni natta.
English: I got lost (became a lost child) in the forest.
Japanese: この迷路はとても難しい。
Kana: このめいろはとてもむずかしい。
Romaji: Kono meiro wa totemo muzukashii.
English: This maze is very difficult.
Japanese: 迷信を信じてはいけない。
Kana: めいしんをしんじてはいけない。
Romaji: Meishin o shinjite wa ikenai.
English: You shouldn’t believe in superstitions.
Japanese: 経済が低迷している。
Kana: けいざいがていめいしている。
Romaji: Keizai ga teimei shite iru.
English: The economy is in a slump.
Japanese: 彼女は都会の喧騒に迷い込んだ。
Kana: かのじょはとかいのけんそうにまよいこんだ。
Romaji: Kanojo wa tokai no kensō ni mayoikonda.
English: She wandered into the hustle and bustle of the city.
Japanese: 彼の話は私を迷わせる。
Kana: かれのはなしはわたしをまよわせる。
Romaji: Kare no hanashi wa watashi o mayowaseru.
English: His story perplexes me.
Japanese: 迷彩服を着た兵士たち。
Kana: めいさいふくをきたへいしたち。
Romaji: Meisaifuku o kita heishitachi.
English: Soldiers wearing camouflage uniforms.
Japanese: 彼は方向感覚を失い、迷走を始めた。
Kana: かれはほうこうかんかくをうしない、めいそうをはじめた。
Romaji: Kare wa hōkō kankaku o ushinai, meisō o hajimeta.
English: He lost his sense of direction and started wandering aimlessly.
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