迷信

• Pinyin: mí xìn
• Hanzi breakdown: 迷 = 辶 (walk) + 米 (rice), lost; 信 = 亻(person) + 言 (speech), trust/believe

Meaning

Superstition; to be superstitious. Believing in supernatural or irrational things without evidence.

Can function as a noun (superstition) or verb (to superstitiously believe in). Often carries a negative connotation, implying irrational belief. Also used metaphorically for blind trust in any unproven idea or authority.

Examples

1. 老一辈人比较迷信，相信很多风水和禁忌。 Older generations are more superstitious and believe in many feng shui practices and taboos.
2. 不要迷信所谓的专家，要有自己的判断。 Don't blindly trust so-called experts; have your own judgment.
3. 随着科学普及，迷信的人越来越少了。 With the spread of science, fewer and fewer people are superstitious.

Usage Guide

Context: belief, criticism, culture

Tone: critical

Do Say

• 这只是迷信，没有科学依据。(This is just superstition; there's no scientific basis.)
• 她很迷信，从不在四楼住。(She's very superstitious and never lives on the fourth floor.)

Don't Say

• 我迷信科学。(Since 迷信 implies irrational belief, using it with 科学 is contradictory — say 相信科学 instead)

Origin & History

迷 (mí, confused/lost) + 信 (xìn, believe). Lost in belief; believing blindly.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal