謎語 / 谜语
míyǔ
To say riddle in Chinese, use 謎語 / 谜语 (míyǔ). If unsure, use 謎語 / 谜语. Wiktionary also lists 謎題 / 谜题 (mítí).
Meaning: verbal puzzle (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 謎語 / 谜语 | míyǔ |
| 謎題 / 谜题 | mítí |
谜语 is the usual word for a verbal or written word puzzle.
What does it mean word for word?
谜 (mí) means riddle or enigma, and 语 (yǔ) means language or words.
Which one should you use?
謎題 / 谜题 (mítí) is a broader word that can include visual or logic puzzles. The answer to a riddle is called 谜底 (mídǐ).
How does it change in a sentence?
To guess or solve a riddle, use the verb 猜, as in 猜谜语.
How do you pronounce it?
In pinyin it is míyǔ.
Did you know?
- During the Lantern Festival, the act of 猜谜语 (cāimíyǔ) historically served as a socially acceptable way for young men and women to interact and flirt in a conservative society.
- Traditional Chinese riddle culture includes 'character riddles' where the puzzle is not about the meaning of a word, but about the visual strokes and components of the character itself.
- In Chinese, the word for the 'answer' to a riddle, 谜底 (mídǐ), literally translates to 'riddle bottom'. This implies that the solution is the hidden foundation upon which the puzzle is built.
Examples in context
- 小明喜欢解答谜语。Xiao Ming enjoys solving riddles.
- 这本书里有一些有趣的谜语。This book contains some interesting riddles.
- 大家一起来猜这个谜题。Let's all guess this riddle together.
- 我准备了一些有趣的谜题。I have prepared some interesting riddles.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “riddle” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
