迷信

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迷信 [2025/08/04 17:03] – created xiaoer迷信 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
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-====== míxìn: 迷信 - Superstition, Superstitious ====== +
-===== Quick Summary ===== +
-  * **Keywords:** 迷信, mixin, superstition in China, Chinese superstition, lucky numbers, feng shui, Chinese folk religion, superstitious beliefs, what is mixin, Chinese culture +
-  * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **迷信 (míxìn)**, the Chinese word for "superstition." This comprehensive guide explores what Chinese people consider superstitious, from lucky numbers and feng shui (风水) to fortune-telling. Learn how **迷信** is viewed in modern China—sometimes as a backward "confused belief" and other times as a cherished, if irrational, cultural custom. This page provides practical examples for learners to understand its cultural nuances and use it correctly in conversation. +
-===== Core Meaning ===== +
-  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** míxìn +
-  * **Part of Speech:** Noun, Adjective +
-  * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 +
-  * **Concise Definition:** A belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, or trust in magic or chance which is not based on reason or scientific knowledge. +
-  * **In a Nutshell:** **迷信 (míxìn)** is the go-to word for "superstition." It literally means "confused belief." It's used to describe beliefs that aren't based on logic, like the idea that the number 4 is unlucky because it sounds like "death," or that arranging your furniture a certain way (feng shui) can change your fortune. While the term is often used dismissively to label old-fashioned or unscientific ideas, many people still follow these customs, sometimes seriously and sometimes just for fun or out of habit. +
-===== Character Breakdown ===== +
-  * **迷 (mí):** This character means "to be lost, confused, or bewildered." Its radical 辶 (chuò) relates to walking, while the component 米 (mǐ) means "rice." You can imagine the feeling of being lost in a vast, disorienting rice paddy. By extension, it means to be enchanted by or be a "fan" of something, as in "movie fan" (影迷 - yǐngmí). +
-  * **信 (xìn):** This character means "to believe, trust," or "faith." It's a combination of 人 (rén), meaning "person," and 言 (yán), meaning "speech." The character powerfully conveys the idea that a person's words should be trustworthy, forming the basis of belief. +
-  * When combined, **迷信 (míxìn)** creates the vivid meaning of a "confused belief" or a "lost/misguided faith." It points to a belief system that is not grounded in logic or reason, where one's trust has been misplaced. +
-===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== +
-**迷信 (míxìn)** is a fascinating and often controversial term in Chinese culture, acting as a dividing line between tradition and modernity, science and folk belief. +
-While the English word "superstition" (e.g., knocking on wood, not walking under a ladder) is a close equivalent, **迷信** in a Chinese context often carries more weight and encompasses a broader range of practices deeply embedded in daily life. This can include: +
-  * **Numerology:** The belief that numbers have inherent luck. The number 8 (八 bā) is lucky because it sounds like "发 (fā)" (to get rich), while 4 (四 sì) is feared because it sounds like "死 (sǐ)" (death). +
-  * **Feng Shui (风水 fēngshuǐ):** The traditional practice of arranging physical space to harmonize with spiritual forces. To a scientist, it's **迷信**. To a practitioner, it's an ancient art and philosophy. +
-  * **Fortune-telling (算命 suànmìng):** Consulting someone to predict one's future based on birthdate, face reading, or other methods. This is almost universally considered **迷信**. +
-  * **Ghosts and Spirits (鬼 guǐ):** Beliefs about the spirit world, hungry ghosts, and the need for ancestral veneration to maintain peace. +
-The Chinese government, particularly since the 20th century, has actively campaigned against what it calls "feudal superstitions" (封建迷信 fēngjiàn míxìn) to promote scientific thought and modernity. Consequently, openly admitting to being "superstitious" can be seen as being uneducated or old-fashioned. However, these practices persist, often reframed as "customs" (习俗 xísú) or "culture" (文化 wénhuà) to be more socially acceptable. The line is often blurry and depends entirely on the speaker's perspective. +
-===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== +
-In daily life, **迷信** is most often used with a negative or skeptical connotation. It's something you accuse others of, or admit to yourself with a self-deprecating laugh. +
-  * **Dismissing a Belief:** The most common use is to call out a belief as irrational. For example, if someone refuses to live on the 4th floor, a friend might say, "你太**迷信**了!" (Nǐ tài míxìn le! - "You're too superstitious!"). +
-  * **Generational Divide:** Younger, more urban Chinese might use **迷信** to describe the beliefs and practices of their parents or grandparents, highlighting a difference in worldview. +
-  * **Self-Awareness:** People often acknowledge their own superstitious behavior jokingly. "我知道这很**迷信**，但是我出门前还是要求个好运。" (Wǒ zhīdào zhè hěn míxìn, dànshì wǒ chūmén qián háishì yào qiú ge hǎo yùn. - "I know this is very superstitious, but I still have to ask for good luck before I leave the house.") +
-  * **As a Noun:** "这种**迷信**早就应该被破除了。" (Zhè zhǒng míxìn zǎo jiù yīnggāi bèi pòchú le. - "This kind of superstition should have been abolished long ago.") +
-===== Example Sentences ===== +
-  * **Example 1:**  +
-    * 我奶奶特别**迷信**，她说数字“四”不吉利。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wǒ nǎinai tèbié **míxìn**, tā shuō shùzì “sì” bù jílì. +
-    * English: My grandma is especially superstitious; she says the number "four" is unlucky. +
-    * Analysis: This is a classic example describing a common Chinese superstition related to numbers. The tone is descriptive and slightly informal. +
-  * **Example 2:**  +
-    * 别那么**迷信**了，黑猫穿过马路什么事都不会发生。 +
-    * Pinyin: Bié nàme **míxìn** le, hēi māo chuānguò mǎlù shénme shì dōu bù huì fāshēng. +
-    * English: Don't be so superstitious, nothing will happen if a black cat crosses the road. +
-    * Analysis: Here, **迷信** is used in a command to dismiss someone's fear, much like in English. "别那么...了" (bié nàme...le) is a common pattern for "Don't be so...". +
-  * **Example 3:**  +
-    * 相信风水是一种**迷信**还是一种文化，这个问题很有争议。 +
-    * Pinyin: Xiāngxìn fēngshuǐ shì yī zhǒng **míxìn** háishì yī zhǒng wénhuà, zhège wèntí hěn yǒu zhēngyì. +
-    * English: Whether believing in Feng Shui is a superstition or a form of culture is a very controversial question. +
-    * Analysis: This sentence uses **迷信** as a noun and highlights the cultural tension surrounding traditional practices. +
-  * **Example 4:**  +
-    * 他是一个很**迷信**的人，做什么事之前都要算一卦。 +
-    * Pinyin: Tā shì yī ge hěn **míxìn** de rén, zuò shénme shì zhīqián dōu yào suàn yī guà. +
-    * English: He is a very superstitious person; he has to get his fortune told before doing anything. +
-    * Analysis: Here, **迷信** functions as an adjective modifying "人" (rén, person). "算一卦" (suàn yī guà) means to perform a divination. +
-  * **Example 5:**  +
-    * 我们要相信科学，破除封建**迷信**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wǒmen yào xiāngxìn kēxué, pòchú fēngjiàn **míxìn**. +
-    * English: We must believe in science and eradicate feudal superstitions. +
-    * Analysis: This is a very formal and official-sounding sentence, often seen in government slogans or textbooks. "破除" (pòchú) means to "eradicate" or "break with." +
-  * **Example 6:**  +
-    * 这只是个心理安慰，我知道有点**迷信**，但它能让我感觉好一点。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zhè zhǐshì ge xīnlǐ ānwèi, wǒ zhīdào yǒudiǎn **míxìn**, dàn tā néng ràng wǒ gǎnjué hǎo yīdiǎn. +
-    * English: This is just for peace of mind. I know it's a bit superstitious, but it makes me feel a little better. +
-    * Analysis: This shows the self-aware, slightly apologetic use of the term for one's own irrational but comforting habits. +
-  * **Example 7:**  +
-    * 你不会真的相信网上那些关于星座的**迷信**说法吧？ +
-    * Pinyin: Nǐ bù huì zhēn de xiāngxìn wǎngshàng nàxiē guānyú xīngzuò de **míxìn** shuōfǎ ba? +
-    * English: You don't actually believe those superstitious claims about zodiac signs online, do you? +
-    * Analysis: This sentence uses **迷信** to describe modern, non-traditional beliefs (like Western astrology), showing the term's versatility. +
-  * **Example 8:**  +
-    * 在一些农村地区，生病了不去看医生而去求神拜佛的**迷信**思想依然存在。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zài yīxiē nóngcūn dìqū, shēngbìng le bù qù kàn yīshēng ér qù qiúshénbàifó de **míxìn** sīxiǎng yīrán cúnzài. +
-    * English: In some rural areas, the superstitious mindset of praying to gods instead of seeing a doctor when sick still exists. +
-    * Analysis: This example carries a strong negative judgment, framing the belief as a dangerous "superstitious thought" (迷信思想). +
-  * **Example 9:**  +
-    * 很多人结婚、搬家都要选个“黄道吉日”，这算是一种普遍的**迷信**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Hěnduō rén jiéhūn, bānjiā dōu yào xuǎn ge “huángdào jírì”, zhè suànshì yī zhǒng pǔbiàn de **míxìn**. +
-    * English: Many people have to pick an "auspicious date" for getting married or moving house; this counts as a common superstition. +
-    * Analysis: This sentence identifies a widespread cultural practice and labels it, neutrally to negatively, as a **迷信**. +
-  * **Example 10:**  +
-    * 经理办公室的布局非常讲究，但我不好意思问他是不是出于**迷信**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Jīnglǐ bàngōngshì de bùjú fēicháng jiǎngjiu, dàn wǒ bù hǎoyìsi wèn tā shì bùshì chūyú **míxìn**. +
-    * English: The layout of the manager's office is very particular, but I was too embarrassed to ask if it was due to superstition. +
-    * Analysis: This shows the social sensitivity around the term. Directly accusing a superior of being superstitious would be impolite, so the speaker hesitates. +
-===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== +
-  * **Not All Tradition is Superstition:** A common mistake for learners is to label any non-scientific Chinese tradition as **迷信**. For example, Traditional Chinese Medicine (中医 - zhōngyī) or celebrating holidays like the Dragon Boat Festival are cultural systems and customs (习俗 - xísú), not necessarily superstitions. Calling them **迷信** can be seen as ignorant or offensive. The key difference is that **迷信** implies a belief in supernatural luck or spirits with no logical basis. +
-  * **False Friend: "Faith" vs. "Superstition":** Do not use **迷信** to describe someone's formal religious belief. While a staunch atheist might view all religion as superstition, in general conversation it is incorrect and rude. For religious faith, use the word **信仰 (xìnyǎng)**. +
-    * **Correct:** 他有自己的宗教**信仰**。 (Tā yǒu zìjǐ de zōngjiào **xìnyǎng**.) - He has his own religious faith. +
-    * **Incorrect:** 他很**迷信**基督教。 (Tā hěn **míxìn** jīdūjiào.) - This sounds like you are saying he has a "confused, irrational belief in Christianity," which is insulting. +
-  * **Connotation is Key:** The English word "superstition" can sometimes feel light or whimsical. In Chinese, **迷信** often carries a heavier, more negative judgment, implying someone is backward, uneducated, or irrational. Be mindful of this strong negative connotation, especially when using it in formal settings or when talking to older people. +
-===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== +
-  * [[科学]] (kēxué) - Science. The direct antonym of **迷信**. +
-  * [[信仰]] (xìnyǎng) - Faith; belief (in a religion, ideology, or philosophy). A more formal and respectful term for a structured belief system. +
-  * [[风水]] (fēngshuǐ) - Feng Shui; Chinese geomancy. A traditional practice often categorized as **迷信** by skeptics. +
-  * [[算命]] (suànmìng) - To tell a fortune. A practice that is almost universally considered a form of **迷信**. +
-  * [[习俗]] (xísú) - Custom; tradition. The line between a **习俗** and a **迷信** can be very blurry and is often debated. +
-  * [[运气]] (yùnqì) - Luck; fortune. Many superstitious behaviors are aimed at improving one's **运气**. +
-  * [[鬼]] (guǐ) - Ghost; spirit. Belief in ghosts is a classic example of **迷信**. +
-  * [[封建]] (fēngjiàn) - Feudal. This is often combined to form **封建迷信** (fēngjiàn míxìn), a political term used to criticize old, "backward" beliefs. +
-  * [[吉利]] (jílì) - Auspicious; lucky. The goal of many superstitious actions is to seek out what is **吉利**.+