神秘 (shén mì) — mysterious | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

An adjective for a person, event, or origin that is hidden and puzzling — used to set a tone of intrigue, not to describe natural laws. Lighter and more atmospheric than 奥秘, which refers to a deep truth (e.g. the universe).

adjective

mysterious

Examples

神秘。
Nà ge shān dòng lǐ yǒu yí gè shén mì de chuán shuō.
There is a mysterious legend about that cave.
，神秘。
Tā zǒng shì chuān yì shēn hēi sè de yī fu, xiǎn de hěn shén mì.
She always wears all black, which makes her look very mysterious.
神秘，。
Zhè ge rén de lái lì fēi cháng shén mì, méi yǒu rén zhī dào tā cóng nǎ lǐ lái.
This person's background is very mysterious; no one knows where he comes from.

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

A secret 秘 of the divine 神 feels mysterious.

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

示示shìgod; deity

Sound part声符shēngfú

申

申shēn神shén

Same sound today

The older form 申 drew lightning, which the ancients regarded as divine; 神 adds 示 (god/deity) to mark that meaning.

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.

Appears in

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