How to Write 迷 (mí) — Meaning “To be lost; fan; enthusiast”

Imagine a fan (enthusiast) walking (辶) through a rice field (米) and getting lost because they are so focused on their hobby. This combines the ideas of being lost and being a fan. The visual of rice helps recall the sound "mi" since 米 is pronounced mǐ.

Write the 辶 radical last: first write 米 (rice) inside, then add the 辶 as a sweeping stroke that wraps around the left and bottom. A common mistake is making the 辶 too small or not letting its final stroke extend far enough to the right. Ensure the 米 is centered and not squeezed into the top-left corner.

Both 迎 (yíng, to welcome) and 运 (yùn, to transport) share the radical 辶 but have different right-side components. 迷 uses 米 (rice) and means "lost" or "fan"; 迎 uses 卬 (a kneeling person) and means to meet someone; 运 uses 云 (cloud) and relates to movement or luck. Pay attention to the right part to distinguish them visually.

迷 commonly appears in words like 迷路 (get lost) for directions and 球迷 (sports fan) for enthusiasts. It is also used in 迷人 (charming), which literally means "to confuse people" but now means attractive. In Chinese culture, a 迷 can be a passionate follower, similar to "fan" in English, but can also imply being obsessed.

Common words containing 迷 include: 迷路 (mí lù) — To get lost; 球迷 (qiú mí) — Sports fan; 迷人 (mí rén) — Charming; enchanting.