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麋 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
麋míelk; surnamen, 17 strokes, radical 鹿, rank #65370, Very Hard
麋míriver bankunknown, 17 strokes, radical 鹿, rank #65370, Very Hard
麋mísurname Miunknown, 17 strokes, radical 鹿, rank #65370, Very Hard
mí(Mi2) T2
  1. 1elk; surname
  2. 2river bank
Also a Chinese surname, Mi — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

麋mí(Mi2)

The character 麋 (mí) primarily means 'elk,' a large deer native to North America and parts of Asia. It can also refer to a surname, Mi, which is less common. In certain contexts, it may describe the bank of a river, although this usage is rare.

Strokes17Radical鹿Frequency#65370DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the elk is not as prominent as in Western contexts, but it may be referenced in literature and poetry to symbolize grace and strength. The surname Mi (米) is more common and is associated with rice, a staple in Chinese cuisine.

Memory Tip

Imagine an 'elk' (麋) standing majestically by the riverbank, its large antlers resembling the branches of a tree. The character 麋 has the radical for 'animal' (犭) and the phonetic component 'mi,' which sounds like 'me'—as in 'the elk is me, standing proud by the river.'

Meanings of 麋

mí(Mi2)
1elk; surname
2river bank
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 麋

麋Simplified
17Strokes
鹿Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 麋

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Podcast: 麋

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 麋

Usage Notes

When using the term 麋, be mindful that it is more formal and may not be frequently encountered in everyday conversation. Common collocations include '麋鹿' (mí lù), which specifically means 'elk.' Learners often confuse it with similar-sounding words, so pay attention to tone.

HSK Study Tips

Though 麋 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to HSK level 5 words like '动物' (dòngwù, 'animal') and '河' (hé, 'river'). Focus on the animal-related vocabulary at this level to enhance your understanding of contexts where 麋 may appear.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 麋 (mí) with similar-sounding characters like 蜜 (mì, 'honey'). Ensure you remember that 麋 refers to an elk. Another common error is using it in informal contexts; it is more appropriate for formal discussions.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 麋

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Etymology of 麋

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 鹿 represents the meaning and 米 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

deer

Semantic (meaning)鹿
+
Phonetic (sound)米
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 麋

Phonosemantic compound. 鹿 represents the meaning and 米 represents the sound.

  1. 1The meaning half鹿 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half米 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaydeer
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 麋? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 麋?

Decomposition of 麋

IDS Structure⿸鹿米
麋Full Character
=
鹿lu4
enclosing
米Mi3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 麋?

How to say elk; surname in Chinese

“elk; surname” in Chinese is麋mí

The character 麋 (mí) primarily means 'elk,' a large deer native to North America and parts of Asia. It can also refer to a surname, Mi, which is less common. In certain contexts, it may describe the bank of a river, although this usage is rare.

When to use 麋

When using the term 麋, be mindful that it is more formal and may not be frequently encountered in everyday conversation. Common collocations include '麋鹿' (mí lù), which specifically means 'elk.' Learners often confuse it with similar-sounding words, so pay attention to tone.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 麋 (mí) with similar-sounding characters like 蜜 (mì, 'honey'). Ensure you remember that 麋 refers to an elk. Another common error is using it in informal contexts; it is more appropriate for formal discussions.

Write 麋

麋

Practice writing 麋 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 麋

Words Containing This Character2
麋鹿Père David's deer (Elaphurus davidianus), species of deer native to China that is critically endangered
麋mímoose
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 麋鹿 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 麋

It is pronounced as 'mí' with a rising tone.

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