秘方 (mì fāng) — secret recipe; secret formula | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A 秘方 is a secret formula — usually for food, medicine, or a product. 秘诀 is broader: any 'trick or method' for success, not just a recipe.

noun

secret recipesecret formula

Measure word · 个

Examples

秘方，。
Zhè shì wǒ jiā chuán de mì fāng, bù néng wài zhuàn.
This is my family's secret recipe; it cannot be passed outside.
秘方。
Tā gēn jù mì fāng tiáo zhì chū le xīn yào.
He developed a new medicine based on the secret formula.
秘方。
Zhè jiā cān tīng de mì fāng ràng fàn cài tè bié hǎo chī.
This restaurant's secret recipe makes the food especially delicious.

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.

秘mìsecret

方fāngformula, recipe

“秘” (secret) and “方” (formula, recipe) combine as a hidden formula or method.

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.

禾必秘

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

必

必bì秘Bì

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The 必 part gives 秘 its sound. The 禾 side replaced an older ritual marker, linking it to secret rituals and arcane meaning.

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Food (General)

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.