About
莞 is a phono-semantic compound combining the semantic radical 艹 (cǎo, 'grass') and the phonetic component 完 (wán). Its meaning varies with pronunciation. When pronounced guǎn, it names a sedge or rush, a grass-like plant historically woven into mats. Pronounced wǎn, it functions as an adjective for a gentle, pleasant smile, best known from the compound 莞尔 (wǎn'ěr). The grass radical points to the original botanical sense, while the smile meaning emerged later as a literary usage, marking a shift from a concrete noun to an emotional adjective.
Etymology Hide
Report an issue
Flag incorrect definitions, examples, etymology, etc.