# 迷 perplexed

(motion) + 米 (rice / America)
★★★★☆
9 strokes
This word is wonderful because all of its jukugo correspond neatly to English words, and are not irritating synonyms of almost-identical Japanese words.

## Onyomi

MEI | You MAY be perplexed by how complex kanji are. Especially when you compare this one to the next one!

## Mnemonic

| The motion of the rice perplexed me until I figured out it was actually a BOWL of maggots!

## Kunyomi

( に ) まよ*う | to be paralyzed because you are unable to choose. (i.e. when shopping, or when you are lost and can't decide which street to take) ★★★☆☆

## Jukugo

道に迷う(みちにまよう) | get lost. ★★★★☆ 道 (street) + 迷 (perplexed) = 道に迷う (get lost.)
迷子(まいご) | lost child ★★★☆☆ FP 迷 (perplexed) + 子 (child) = 迷子 (lost child)
迷路(めいろ) | maze ★☆☆☆☆ 迷 (perplexed) + 路 (road) = 迷路 (maze)

## Lookalikes

| Meaning | Hint | Radical
--- | --- | --- | ---
迷 | perplexed | RICE (2 dots!!) | 米
述 | refer to | ONE DOT |

You get perplexed by RICE, so you refer to ONE DOT to comparison:

"OK, if it's bigger than this dot, then it must not be rice."

## Used In

- 謎