霉 (méi) - Mold, mildew & rotten, moldy

霉Tone 2

méi ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

伦妙

霉 · méi

Mold, mildew;

rotten, moldy;

bad luck, misfortune.

Mold, mildewrotten, moldybad luck, misfortune.

Usage highlights

MoldyBad luckMildewMusty smellMoldy tofuMildew prevention

Synonyms

  • 菌— fungus, bacteria
  • 腐— rotten, decayed
  • 坏— bad, spoiled

Antonyms

  • 吉— auspicious, lucky
  • 祥— propitious, fortunate
  • 福— good fortune, blessing

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The bread grew mold (发霉).
  • The room smells musty (霉味).
  • He's been having a streak of bad luck (倒霉).
  • This is moldy tofu (霉豆腐).

Collocations

  • Moldy(发霉)
  • Bad luck(倒霉)
  • Mildew(霉菌)
  • Musty smell(霉味)
  • Moldy tofu(霉豆腐)
  • Mildew prevention(防霉)

Idioms

  • Down on one's luck(倒霉透顶)
  • Misfortune never comes alone(祸不单行)
  • A streak of bad luck(霉运连连)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Associated with dampness, decay, and negative energy in traditional Chinese medicine and feng shui.
  • Often used metaphorically to describe persistent bad luck or unfortunate circumstances.
  • In folk belief,霉运 (bad luck) is thought to be contagious and should be avoided.

FAQ