溟 (míng) - Vast sea & ocean

溟Tone 2

míng ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

妙慕

溟 · míng

Vast sea;

ocean;

deep, obscure, or boundless expanse of water;

often used metaphorically to describe something vast and profound.

Vast seaoceandeep, obscure, or boundless expanse of water

Usage highlights

Vast seaBoundless oceanProfound obscurityOcean and landDeep and vastOcean waves

Synonyms

  • 海— sea, ocean
  • 洋— ocean, vast expanse
  • 瀚— vast, expansive (as in ocean or desert)

Antonyms

  • 溪— small stream, creek
  • 涧— mountain stream, gully
  • 浅— shallow, superficial

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The vast ocean (溟海) stretches to the horizon.
  • His knowledge is as deep as the ocean (学如溟海).
  • The ship sailed into the boundless sea (溟洋).
  • A state of profound obscurity (溟茫).

Collocations

  • Vast sea(溟海)
  • Boundless ocean(溟洋)
  • Profound obscurity(溟茫)
  • Ocean and land(溟陆)
  • Deep and vast(溟深)
  • Ocean waves(溟波)

Idioms

  • As vast as the ocean(溟海无际)
  • Boundless and profound(溟茫无涯)
  • Ocean's depth and mountain's height(溟深岳峻)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Daoist cosmology, 'Ming' refers to the primordial, undifferentiated state of chaos before creation.
  • Often used in classical Chinese poetry to evoke a sense of boundlessness and mystery.
  • Associated with the concept of the Northern Sea in Zhuangzi's philosophy.

FAQ