mei

Everyday

1. (Mandarin, pinyin) «Méi» means «not» or «don't have»: «méiyǒu» is «there isn't» or «I haven't got». tree →
2. (Mandarin, pinyin) «Měi» means «beautiful» and also «every»: «měitiān» is «every day». tree →
3. (Mandarin, pinyin) «Měiguó» means «America», the USA, literally «beautiful country». tree →
4. (a name) Mei is a girl's name, used in China and Japan. To an English ear it sounds like «may». tree →

In the lessons

In Mandarin lessons pupils learn «méi guānxi» (it doesn't matter, no problem), «méiyǒu» (haven't got) and «měitiān» (every day). In stories and anime Mei is a character's name. Heard on the street in Chinatowns and Chinese families, «méiyǒu» is a common short answer meaning «no, there isn't any».

Examples

• In Mandarin, «méi guānxi» means «never mind». tree →
• «Wǒ méiyǒu gēge» means «I haven't got an older brother». tree →
• «Měitiān» means «every day». tree →
• «Měiguó» is the Mandarin name for America. tree →
• My friend Mei is learning the violin. tree →
• Pinyin «mei» sounds like the English name «May». tree →
• «Méiyǒu!» the shopkeeper said — there were none left. tree →

Note

Not an English word. In pinyin the tone mark changes the meaning: «méi» (rising: not have) and «měi» (dipping: beautiful, every) are different words. As a name it takes a capital: «Mei». Do not read it as «me» or «my».