"Mei" meaning in English

See Mei in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Proper name

IPA: /meɪ/
enPR: mā Rhymes: -eɪ Etymology: From Mandarin 美 (měi, “beautiful”), a common Chinese given name among women. Etymology templates: {{bor|en|cmn|美||beautiful|tr=měi}} Mandarin 美 (měi, “beautiful”) Head templates: {{en-proper noun}} Mei
  1. A female given name from Mandarin.
    Sense id: en-Mei-en-name-YORDmOS8 Categories (other): English female given names, English given names, Terms with Mandarin translations Disambiguation of Terms with Mandarin translations: 42 51 7
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 1

Proper name

IPA: /meɪ/
enPR: mā Rhymes: -eɪ Etymology: Typically renders the common Chinese surnames Mandarin 梅 (méi, literally “plum”) and Mandarin 枚 (méi, literally “tree trunk”). Etymology templates: {{bor|en|cmn|梅|lit=plum|tr=méi}} Mandarin 梅 (méi, literally “plum”), {{bor|en|cmn|枚||lit=tree trunk|tr=méi}} Mandarin 枚 (méi, literally “tree trunk”) Head templates: {{en-proper noun}} Mei
  1. A surname from Mandarin.
    Sense id: en-Mei-en-name-FLxmAR-a Categories (other): English surnames, Pages with entries, Terms with Mandarin translations Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 10 12 32 35 11 Disambiguation of Terms with Mandarin translations: 42 51 7
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 2

Proper name

IPA: /meɪ/
enPR: mā Rhymes: -eɪ Etymology: From Mandarin 眉 (Méi). Etymology templates: {{interproject-box|intro=Wikimedia Commons has media about|link=Mei County|logo=Commons-logo.svg|logolink=commons:Category:Mei County|noitalic=}}, {{commonscat|Mei County}}, {{bor|en|cmn|^眉}} Mandarin 眉 (Méi) Head templates: {{en-proper noun}} Mei
  1. A county of Baoji, Shaanxi, China. Categories (place): Places in Baoji, Places in China, Places in Shaanxi, China Translations (county): (Méi) (Chinese Mandarin)
    Sense id: en-Mei-en-name-c3OtTSpz Categories (other): Counties and county-level cities of Baoji, English entries with incorrect language header, Entries with translation boxes, Pages with 14 entries, Pages with entries Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 26 20 54 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 21 8 71 Disambiguation of Pages with 14 entries: 14 17 29 23 16 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 10 12 32 35 11
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 3
{
  "etymology_number": 1,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "cmn",
        "3": "美",
        "4": "",
        "5": "beautiful",
        "tr": "měi"
      },
      "expansion": "Mandarin 美 (měi, “beautiful”)",
      "name": "bor"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Mandarin 美 (měi, “beautiful”), a common Chinese given name among women.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "Mei",
      "name": "en-proper noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "name",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English female given names",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English given names",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "42 51 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Mandarin translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A female given name from Mandarin."
      ],
      "id": "en-Mei-en-name-YORDmOS8",
      "links": [
        [
          "given name",
          "given name"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "enpr": "mā"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/meɪ/"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-eɪ"
    },
    {
      "homophone": "may"
    },
    {
      "homophone": "May"
    }
  ],
  "word": "Mei"
}

{
  "etymology_number": 2,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "cmn",
        "3": "梅",
        "lit": "plum",
        "tr": "méi"
      },
      "expansion": "Mandarin 梅 (méi, literally “plum”)",
      "name": "bor"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "cmn",
        "3": "枚",
        "4": "",
        "lit": "tree trunk",
        "tr": "méi"
      },
      "expansion": "Mandarin 枚 (méi, literally “tree trunk”)",
      "name": "bor"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Typically renders the common Chinese surnames Mandarin 梅 (méi, literally “plum”) and Mandarin 枚 (méi, literally “tree trunk”).",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "Mei",
      "name": "en-proper noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "name",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English surnames",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "10 12 32 35 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "42 51 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Mandarin translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A surname from Mandarin."
      ],
      "id": "en-Mei-en-name-FLxmAR-a",
      "links": [
        [
          "surname",
          "surname"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "enpr": "mā"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/meɪ/"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-eɪ"
    },
    {
      "homophone": "may"
    },
    {
      "homophone": "May"
    }
  ],
  "word": "Mei"
}

{
  "etymology_number": 3,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "intro": "Wikimedia Commons has media about",
        "link": "Mei County",
        "logo": "Commons-logo.svg",
        "logolink": "commons:Category:Mei County",
        "noitalic": ""
      },
      "expansion": "",
      "name": "interproject-box"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "Mei County"
      },
      "expansion": "",
      "name": "commonscat"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "cmn",
        "3": "^眉"
      },
      "expansion": "Mandarin 眉 (Méi)",
      "name": "bor"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Mandarin 眉 (Méi).",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "Mei",
      "name": "en-proper noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "name",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Counties and county-level cities of Baoji",
          "orig": "en:Counties and county-level cities of Baoji",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "place",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Places in Baoji",
          "orig": "en:Places in Baoji",
          "parents": [
            "Places"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "place",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Places in China",
          "orig": "en:Places in China",
          "parents": [
            "Places"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "place",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Places in Shaanxi, China",
          "orig": "en:Places in Shaanxi, China",
          "parents": [
            "Places"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "26 20 54",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "21 8 71",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "14 17 29 23 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 14 entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "10 12 32 35 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              115,
              118
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "1969 May 23 [1969 May 19], “Activities in Shensi”, in Daily Report: Communist China, volume I, number 100, Foreign Broadcast Information Service, sourced from Sian Shensi Provincial, translation of original in Mandarin, →OCLC, page H 3:",
          "text": "The Paochi Special District Revolutionary Committee held an on-the-spot symposium on implementation of policies in Mei County and exemplary models were set up later in the various countries and communes.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              163,
              166
            ],
            [
              349,
              352
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2010 October 15, “Bigfoot sighted on Taibai Mountain”, in 叶欣, editor, People's Daily, archived from the original on 23 May 2015:",
          "text": "The striking news on the appearance of a Bigfoot on Taibai Mountain in Xi'an, Shaanxi Provnice^([sic – meaning Province]) recently spread among local residents of Mei County located near the foot of Taibai Mountain. Is Taibai Mountain really home to a Bigfoot?\nWho encountered the Bigfoot on Taibai Mountain?\nReporters interviewed many residents of Mei County, and their accounts varied.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A county of Baoji, Shaanxi, China."
      ],
      "id": "en-Mei-en-name-c3OtTSpz",
      "links": [
        [
          "county",
          "county"
        ],
        [
          "Baoji",
          "Baoji#English"
        ],
        [
          "Shaanxi",
          "Shaanxi#English"
        ],
        [
          "China",
          "China#English"
        ]
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "lang_code": "cmn",
          "roman": "Méi",
          "sense": "county",
          "word": "眉"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "enpr": "mā"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/meɪ/"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-eɪ"
    },
    {
      "homophone": "may"
    },
    {
      "homophone": "May"
    }
  ],
  "word": "Mei"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English proper nouns",
    "English terms borrowed from Mandarin",
    "English terms derived from Mandarin",
    "English terms with homophones",
    "English uncountable nouns",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 14 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Rhymes:English/eɪ",
    "Rhymes:English/eɪ/1 syllable",
    "Terms with Mandarin translations"
  ],
  "etymology_number": 1,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "cmn",
        "3": "美",
        "4": "",
        "5": "beautiful",
        "tr": "měi"
      },
      "expansion": "Mandarin 美 (měi, “beautiful”)",
      "name": "bor"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Mandarin 美 (měi, “beautiful”), a common Chinese given name among women.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "Mei",
      "name": "en-proper noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "name",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English female given names",
        "English female given names from Mandarin",
        "English given names"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A female given name from Mandarin."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "given name",
          "given name"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "enpr": "mā"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/meɪ/"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-eɪ"
    },
    {
      "homophone": "may"
    },
    {
      "homophone": "May"
    }
  ],
  "word": "Mei"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English proper nouns",
    "English terms borrowed from Mandarin",
    "English terms derived from Mandarin",
    "English terms with homophones",
    "English uncountable nouns",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 14 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Rhymes:English/eɪ",
    "Rhymes:English/eɪ/1 syllable",
    "Terms with Mandarin translations"
  ],
  "etymology_number": 2,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "cmn",
        "3": "梅",
        "lit": "plum",
        "tr": "méi"
      },
      "expansion": "Mandarin 梅 (méi, literally “plum”)",
      "name": "bor"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "cmn",
        "3": "枚",
        "4": "",
        "lit": "tree trunk",
        "tr": "méi"
      },
      "expansion": "Mandarin 枚 (méi, literally “tree trunk”)",
      "name": "bor"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Typically renders the common Chinese surnames Mandarin 梅 (méi, literally “plum”) and Mandarin 枚 (méi, literally “tree trunk”).",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "Mei",
      "name": "en-proper noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "name",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English surnames",
        "English surnames from Mandarin"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A surname from Mandarin."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "surname",
          "surname"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "enpr": "mā"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/meɪ/"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-eɪ"
    },
    {
      "homophone": "may"
    },
    {
      "homophone": "May"
    }
  ],
  "word": "Mei"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English proper nouns",
    "English terms borrowed from Mandarin",
    "English terms derived from Mandarin",
    "English terms with homophones",
    "English uncountable nouns",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 14 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Rhymes:English/eɪ",
    "Rhymes:English/eɪ/1 syllable",
    "Terms with Mandarin translations"
  ],
  "etymology_number": 3,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "intro": "Wikimedia Commons has media about",
        "link": "Mei County",
        "logo": "Commons-logo.svg",
        "logolink": "commons:Category:Mei County",
        "noitalic": ""
      },
      "expansion": "",
      "name": "interproject-box"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "Mei County"
      },
      "expansion": "",
      "name": "commonscat"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "cmn",
        "3": "^眉"
      },
      "expansion": "Mandarin 眉 (Méi)",
      "name": "bor"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Mandarin 眉 (Méi).",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "Mei",
      "name": "en-proper noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "name",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "en:Counties and county-level cities of Baoji",
        "en:Places in Baoji",
        "en:Places in China",
        "en:Places in Shaanxi, China"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              115,
              118
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "1969 May 23 [1969 May 19], “Activities in Shensi”, in Daily Report: Communist China, volume I, number 100, Foreign Broadcast Information Service, sourced from Sian Shensi Provincial, translation of original in Mandarin, →OCLC, page H 3:",
          "text": "The Paochi Special District Revolutionary Committee held an on-the-spot symposium on implementation of policies in Mei County and exemplary models were set up later in the various countries and communes.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              163,
              166
            ],
            [
              349,
              352
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2010 October 15, “Bigfoot sighted on Taibai Mountain”, in 叶欣, editor, People's Daily, archived from the original on 23 May 2015:",
          "text": "The striking news on the appearance of a Bigfoot on Taibai Mountain in Xi'an, Shaanxi Provnice^([sic – meaning Province]) recently spread among local residents of Mei County located near the foot of Taibai Mountain. Is Taibai Mountain really home to a Bigfoot?\nWho encountered the Bigfoot on Taibai Mountain?\nReporters interviewed many residents of Mei County, and their accounts varied.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A county of Baoji, Shaanxi, China."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "county",
          "county"
        ],
        [
          "Baoji",
          "Baoji#English"
        ],
        [
          "Shaanxi",
          "Shaanxi#English"
        ],
        [
          "China",
          "China#English"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "enpr": "mā"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/meɪ/"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-eɪ"
    },
    {
      "homophone": "may"
    },
    {
      "homophone": "May"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "lang_code": "cmn",
      "roman": "Méi",
      "sense": "county",
      "word": "眉"
    }
  ],
  "word": "Mei"
}

Download raw JSONL data for Mei meaning in English (5.3kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-01-19 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-01-01 using wiktextract (d1270d2 and 9905b1f). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.