低迷
dīmí · HSK 7
low
📉 dī = low + mí = lost/confused — spirits so low you're in a daze
The first character 低 means low or below. The second 迷 means confused, lost, or dazed. Together they describe a slump — economic doldrums, low morale, or a depressed state where things feel foggy and stuck.
低 — person radical 亻 + 氐 (base)
A semantic-phonetic compound. The left side 亻 (person) gives the meaning, while 氐 supplies the sound and originally depicted something reaching the ground or base. Together they suggest a person bowing low, which extended to the general sense of 'low' in height, position, or degree.
迷 — 辶 (walk) + 米 (rice/mǐ, phonetic)
A semantic-phonetic compound. The 辶 component (walking/road) gives the meaning of going astray on a path, while 米 (mǐ) supplies the sound. Originally referring to losing one's way while traveling, it later extended to mean confused, lost, or fascinated/captivated by something.