糜 (mí) - Millet & to waste/extravagance

糜Tone 2

mí ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

伦妙

糜 · mí

Millet;

to waste/extravagance;

to rot/decay;

paste/porridge;

a surname.

Milletto waste/extravaganceto rot/decay

Usage highlights

Extravagant and wastefulRotten and decadentMillet grainPorridgeWaste moneyThe Mi family

Synonyms

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The grain millet is nutritious (糜子).
  • He lived a life of luxury and waste (生活糜烂).
  • The wound became infected and festered (伤口糜烂).
  • They ate millet porridge for breakfast (糜粥).

Collocations

  • Extravagant and wasteful(糜费)
  • Rotten and decadent(糜烂)
  • Millet grain(糜子)
  • Porridge(糜粥)
  • Waste money(糜耗)
  • The Mi family(糜氏)

Idioms

  • To waste money and manpower(劳师糜饷)
  • Extravagant and wasteful(侈糜无度)
  • Squander a great fortune(坐糜廪粟)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically refers to a type of millet grain, a staple food in ancient China.
  • Extended meaning of 'waste' or 'extravagance' from the idea of consuming grain excessively.
  • Also used in medical/biological contexts to describe tissue erosion or decay.
  • Appears as a historical surname, notably with Mi Zhu, an official under Liu Bei during the Three Kingdoms period.

FAQ