Chinese word

迷茫

Pronunciation

Pinyinmí máng

Meaning

  • adjectivelost

Example

毕业后，他对未来感到迷茫。bì yè hòu tā duì wèi lái gǎn dào mí máng

After graduating, he feels lost about the future.

Illustration for 迷茫 (lost)

More examples

听了那番话，他显得很迷茫。tīng le nà fān huà tā xiǎn de hěn mí máng

After hearing those words, he looked very lost.

Core concept

An unclear path or future leaves a person without a sure direction.

Common phrases

  • 看起来迷茫kàn qǐ lái mí máng

    look lost

  • 面对选择感到迷茫miàn duì xuǎn zé gǎn dào mí máng

    feel lost when choosing

  • 有点迷茫yóu diǎn mí máng

    a little lost

Similar words

困惑kùn huò: Feeling puzzled by the meaning or cause of something and unsure what to do.
犹豫yóu yù: Being unable to act because of uncertainty about a choice.
茫然máng rán: Feeling mentally blank and unsure of the next step.
迷惘mí wǎng: Feeling unsettled when a direction or goal remains unclear.

Definition in Chinese

迷茫是形容对事物的方向或前景不清楚，从而感到困惑和无所适从的状态。mí máng shì xíng róng duì shì wù de fāng xiàng huò qián jǐng bù qīng chǔ cóng ér gǎn dào kùn huò hé wú suǒ shì cóng de zhuàng tài

Word origin

迷 (mí, "lose one's way") + 茫 (máng, "vast and unclear") form a compound that turns physical disorientation and indistinct space into a feeling of uncertainty.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this word fits decisions and life plans especially well, so it is useful when describing uncertainty after a major change such as finishing school or starting work.

Other meanings

  • at a lossadjective
  • puzzledadjective
  • confusedadjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word