迷魂汤

迷魂湯

míhúntāng

idiom #89,928

Meanings

1 soul-bewitching broth
2 sweet talk meant to beguile
3 flattery that clouds the judgment

Characters

to bewitch; confuse

Examples

HSK 2

别信他的迷魂汤，那人靠不住。

Bié xìn tā de míhúntāng, nà rén kàobuzhù.

Don't fall for his sweet talk; he's not to be trusted.

HSK 5

广告就是一锅迷魂汤，听着都对。

Guǎnggào jiùshì yì guō míhúntāng, tīng zhe dōu duì.

Advertising is one big pot of flattery; it all sounds right.

HSK 7-9

她给老板灌了几碗迷魂汤。

Tā gěi lǎobǎn guàn le jǐ wǎn míhúntāng.

She poured a few bowls of honeyed words into the boss's ear.

Tips

culture

In folk belief, souls headed for reincarnation drink 迷魂汤 (also 孟婆汤) at the underworld crossing; it erases their past life. The set phrase carries that sense: words that make you forget who you are and what you know.

usage

Often with 灌 ('to pour'): 灌迷魂汤 = 'to pour sweet talk over someone.' The target is the passive receiver of the dose.

Stroke Order

迷 mí

魂 hún

汤 tāng