妄

wàng

亡 + 女

Definitions

wàng (adjective) rash; presumptuous

wàng (adjective) absurd; unfounded

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 亡 represents the sound.

Semantic: 女 Phonetic: 亡

About

The character 妄 is a phonosemantic compound where 亡 (fleeing, perishing, absent) at the top supplies the sound and the radical 女 (female) at the bottom originally provided the meaning. Its core meanings encompass absurdity, falsity, rashness, and presumptuous, reckless behaviour that flouts truth and established norms. Although the female radical points to archaic gender biases linking women to irrational and improper behaviour, contemporary usage has severed this connection, and the character now describes any action, thought, or statement that is wildly delusional, baseless, or arrogantly divorced from reality. It is most often encountered in compound words expressing arrogant assumptions, vain attempts, or complete fabrications.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他的妄想不现实。

Tā de wàngxiǎng bù xiànshí.

His delusion is unrealistic.

不要妄图欺骗别人。

Bù yào wàngtú qīpiàn biérén.

Don't attempt to deceive others vainly.

她狂妄地认为自己最聪明。

Tā kuángwàng de rènwéi zìjǐ zuì cōngmíng.

She arrogantly thinks she is the smartest.

妄下结论是不对的。

Wàng xià jiélùn shì bù duì de.

It is wrong to draw conclusions rashly.

他妄称自己是专家。

Tā wàng chēng zìjǐ shì zhuānjiā.

He falsely claims to be an expert.

这种妄测毫无根据。

Zhè zhǒng wàng cè háo wú gēnjù.

This kind of rash speculation has no basis.

妄加指责只会激化矛盾。

Wàng jiā zhǐzé zhǐ huì jīhuà máodùn.

Making rash accusations will only intensify contradictions.

切勿妄动，需谨慎行事。

Qiè wù wàng dòng, xū jǐnshèn xíngshì.

Do not act rashly; you need to proceed with caution.

Related Characters

Component: 亡

Component: 女

妄