Meaning of 神秘
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- mysterious
- mystery
How to use 神秘
神秘 is mostly used as an adjective for people, places, or events that are hard to understand or deliberately hidden. It often appears with 很 or in the pattern 神秘的 + noun. Example: 他是一个很神秘的人。(Tā shì yí gè hěn shénmì de rén.) He is a very mysterious person.
神 (shén) means god or spirit, and 秘 (mì) means secret, as in 秘密 (mìmì). Something that is as secret as the gods is 神秘 (shénmì), mysterious.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 神秘 (shénmì, mysterious) with 秘密 (mìmì, a secret). You can say 这是一个秘密 (this is a secret), but not 这是一个神秘 for that meaning. Also note that 秘 is mì in fourth tone, not bì.
神秘 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
神 shén · god · 9 strokes
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秘 mì · secret · 10 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 神秘.
| 精神 | jīngshén | spirit; mind |
| 秘密 | mìmì | secret; private; confidential; clandestine; a secret |
| 秘书 | mìshū | secretary |
| 神话 | shénhuà | legend; fairy tale |
| 神奇 | shénqí | magical; mystical |
| 神经 | shénjīng | nerve; mental state |
| 神情 | shénqíng | look; expression |
| 秘书长 | mìshūzhǎng | secretary-general |
| 神圣 | shénshèng | divine; hallow |
| 眼神 | yǎnshén | expression or emotion showing in one's eyes; meaningful glance |
| 精神病 | jīngshénbìng | mental disorder; psychosis |
| 神仙 | shénxiān | Daoist immortal; supernatural entity |
Questions about 神秘
What does 神秘 mean?
神秘 (shénmì) means "mysterious; mystery" and is used as a adjective.
How do you write 神秘?
神秘 is made of 2 characters: 神 (9 strokes), 秘 (10 strokes). That is 19 strokes in total.
Is 神秘 an HSK word?
Yes. 神秘 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 神秘 and 神奇?
神秘 (shénmì) describes something hidden or hard to understand. 神奇 (shénqí) describes something amazing or magical that surprises you. A locked room can be 神秘, while a medicine that cures you overnight is 神奇.
Can 神秘 be used as a noun?
Yes, it can mean mystery in phrases like 宇宙的神秘 (yǔzhòu de shénmì), the mystery of the universe. In everyday speech, though, it is used much more often as an adjective.