mei6魅
Jyutpingmei6
Yalemeih
Definition
Demons, ghosts, or spirits.
writtenother
How it's used
This character is rarely used on its own in modern spoken Cantonese and functions primarily as a bound morpheme in literary or descriptive compounds. It carries a more mystical or sinister connotation compared to the generic 鬼. You will mostly encounter it in formal writing or when describing supernatural entities in a dramatic or storytelling context.
Examples
It feels like there are ghosts here, I am so scared.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this as a standalone noun for a ghost in casual conversation, as it sounds overly dramatic or archaic. Use 鬼 instead for everyday situations.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
