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枚

Mandarin · pinyin méi#

classifier for small objects: coins, badges, rings, carved seals, chess pieces, eggs, fingerprints etc (more formal than 個 gè)
classifier for bombs, missiles, satellites etc
(on product packaging) classifier for flat items (from Japanese 枚 "mai")
(old) stick used as a gag to prevent soldiers from talking while sneaking up on the enemy

Mandarin · pinyin Méi#

surname Mei

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枚: méi · stalk of shrub, trunk of tree

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

2 · mei2

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1character link52same-tone records2source references

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

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Compare dictionary sources Rime · Wiktionary

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

mui4

Cantonese word readings for 枚. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

character · Etymology 1

(archaic) stalk of shrub; trunk of tree
(historical) wooden peg (a gag for marching soldiers to prevent talking)
(obsolete) small wooden rod; counting rod
(dated) Classifier for generic countable objects.
(dated) Classifier for generic countable objects. — one by one; each
Classifier for certain small, flat objects, such as coins, stamps, badges, sporting medals. ⇒ all nouns using this classifier
Classifier for rockets, satellites and certain weapons (especially bombs).
(neologism) Classifier for people.
(neologism) Classifier for flat thin objects (especially followed by 入 mimicking Japanese usage to give an exotic flair or exaggerated quality perception of a product)
a surname, Mei

character · Etymology 2

(Hainanese) Classifier for generic countable objects.

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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