昧 mèi dark
dark; hidden; obscure
How to remember 昧: 日 sun + 未 not yet = dark. The sun is not yet up when the campers leave the tent, and the forest path ahead is still dark.
Component breakdown
昧 = 日 sun + 未 not yet
- 日 sun
- 未 not yet
The sun is not yet up when the campers leave the tent, and the forest path ahead is still dark.
How it is used
- Dark/obscured, hence morally or perceptually unclear - 愚昧 (yúmèi) benighted/ignorant, 暧昧 (àimèi) ambiguous (esp. romantically).
- 冒昧 (màomèi) is a politeness word: 恕我冒昧 (shù wǒ màomèi) 'pardon my presumption' before an imposition.