迷路 (mí lù) — to get lost, to lose one's way | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A set phrase for getting lost physically (in a place, on the road). Differs from 迷 (HSK5), which also covers being figuratively obsessed with something — only 迷路 means literally losing one's way.

verb

to get lostto lose one's way

Examples

，迷路。
Bié dān xīn, gēn zhe wǒ nǐ bú huì mí lù de.
Don't worry, follow me and you won't get lost.
。
Wǒ zài zhè tiáo jiē shàng mí guò lù.
I've gotten lost on this street before.
迷路。
Tā zài gōng yuán lǐ mí lù le.
He got lost in the park.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

迷路 combines lose with road, so it means to lose one's way.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

辵辵chuòwalk

Sound part声符shēngfú

米

米mǐ迷mí

Same sound today

迷 uses 辵, the walking part, and 米, which gives the sound.

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

各

各gè路lù

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

路 combines 足, a foot, with 各, which supplies the sound.

Appears in

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