字谜 (zì mí) — a riddle based on the structure or meaning of C… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A 字谜 (zì mí) is a riddle whose answer is a Chinese character, often built from clues about its structure (radicals, strokes) or meaning. Distinct from ordinary riddles (谜语), whose answers are objects or actions.

noun

a riddle based on the structure or meaning of Chinese characters

Examples

字谜。
Cāi zì mí shì yì zhǒng yǒu qù de hàn zì yóu xì.
Solving character riddles is a fun Chinese character game.
字谜“”。
Zhè ge zì mí de dá àn shì yí gè "xīn" zì.
The answer to this character riddle is the character '心' (heart).
字谜。
Tā xǐ huan zài kè táng shàng chū zì mí ràng xué shēng sī kǎo.
He likes to give character riddles in class to make students think.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

字zìcharacter

谜míriddle

字 (character) specifies the kind of 谜 (riddle), so this is a riddle based on characters.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

宀子字

Meaning part形符xíngfú

宀宀miánroof

Sound part声符shēngfú

子

子zǐ字zì

Same sound today

字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 謎; 谜 is its simplified writing.

言迷謎

Meaning part形符xíngfú

言言yánspeech

Sound part声符shēngfú

迷

迷mí謎mí

Same sound today

The traditional form 謎 is made from 言 (speech) and 迷, which gives the sound and means 'to be lost'; the simplified 谜 is a later abbreviation.

Appears in

Games & Puzzles Language

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