沉迷

• Pinyin: chén mí
• Hanzi breakdown: 沉 = 氵 (water) + 冘 (phonetic); 迷 = 辶 (movement) + 米 (rice, phonetic)

Meaning

To be addicted to; to be obsessed with; to indulge in. Deep, often unhealthy absorption in something.

Usually carries a negative connotation, suggesting excessive or harmful involvement. Common objects of 沉迷 include games, gambling, alcohol, and the internet. Can sometimes be neutral for hobbies.

Examples

1. 很多青少年沉迷于网络游戏。 Many teenagers are addicted to online games.
2. 他沉迷赌博，输光了所有积蓄。 He was addicted to gambling and lost all his savings.
3. 别太沉迷手机，要多关注现实生活。 Don't be too obsessed with your phone; pay more attention to real life.

Usage Guide

Context: addiction, warnings, social issues

Tone: cautionary

Do Say

• 不要沉迷于过去，要向前看。(Don't be obsessed with the past; look forward.)
• 他沉迷工作到了忘我的程度。(He's so absorbed in work he forgets himself.)

Don't Say

• 我沉迷于学习 (While grammatically possible, 沉迷 usually implies harmful addiction — for positive dedication to study, use 专注于 or 热爱)

Origin & History

Compound of 沉 (to sink, deep) and 迷 (to be lost, confused). Together meaning 'deeply lost in something.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal