魅 mèi magic
magic; enchantment; charm
How to remember 魅: 鬼 ghost + 未 not yet = magic. The kid dressed as a ghost has not yet said a word, but the whole party already falls under his magic.
Component breakdown
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
魅 = 鬼 ghost + 未 not yet
- 鬼 ghost meaning
- 未 not yet sound
The kid dressed as a ghost has not yet said a word, but the whole party already falls under his magic.
How it came to be
The small seal form puts the ghost on the left for the meaning and a sound part on the right: a spirit.
How it is used
- Almost entirely bound to a single word: 魅力 mèilì "charm/charisma," used for people, places, and products alike (这座城市很有魅力 "this city has great charm").
- You will rarely, if ever, meet 魅 outside this compound in everyday Mandarin.