黴 meaning and stroke order
Bacteria, fungi, mold
How to write 黴, stroke by stroke
23 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 黴
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- variant of 霉[mei2]
How 黴 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A small 微 black 黑 growth; 微 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 黑 (black), shared by 17 characters on this site.
How to remember 黴
Picture something tiny 微 (wēi) and black 黑 (hēi) spreading on old food. That small black growth is mold, and 微 also hints at the sound méi.
黴 is a variant of 霉 (méi), and it is the form still used in traditional Chinese writing for mold and fungi. In mainland China you will almost always see 霉 instead, as in 青霉素 (qīngméisù), penicillin. Example: 麵包發黴了。(Miànbāo fā méi le.) The bread has gone moldy.
Common mistake: Learners often read 黴 as wēi because of the 微 part, but the correct reading is méi with a second tone. Also note that 黑 wraps around the bottom inside 微 here, so do not write the two parts side by side.
Common words with 黴
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 青黴素 | qīngméisù | (pharmacology) penicillin |
Questions about 黴
How many strokes are in 黴?
黴 is written with 23 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 黴 mean?
黴 (méi) means bacteria, fungi, mold. A common word with it is 青霉素 (qīngméisù), meaning "(pharmacology) penicillin".
How do you pronounce 黴?
黴 is pronounced méi, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 黴?
The radical of 黴 is 黑, which carries the idea of "black". Dictionaries list 黴 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 黴?
黴 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 霉, used in mainland China and Singapore.
Should I write 黴 or 霉?
Use 霉 in simplified Chinese, which is standard in mainland China. 黴 is common in Taiwan and Hong Kong for the mold meaning, so choose the form that matches the script you are writing.
Does 黴 also mean bad luck like 倒霉?
No. The bad luck sense in 倒霉 (dǎoméi) is written with 霉 even in traditional texts. 黴 is used only for mold, fungi, and related words.