Definitions

mǎng (noun) thick weeds; dense vegetation
mǎng (adjective) rash; impetuous

Etymology

A dog  surrounded by weeds 

About

The character "莽" originates from the conceptual depiction of a dog hidden within grass, which conveyed the notion of a dense thicket or untamed wilderness. Its structure in contemporary usage integrates the grass radical "艹" above a component that includes "犬" meaning dog, mirroring this initial concept. The semantic range of "莽" expanded from its primary reference to overgrown vegetation to later describe impulsive or coarse human behavior, thereby acquiring additional connotations of rashness and rudeness alongside its original botanical sense.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Warring States (475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个人的性格很撞。

Zhège rén de xìnggé hěn mǎngzhuàng.

This person's personality is very rash.

撞地冲进了房间。

Tā mǎngzhuàng de chōngjìnle fángjiān.

He rushed into the room recklessly.

做事不要这么鲁

Zuòshì búyào zhème lǔmǎng.

Don't be so reckless when doing things.

他为自己年轻时的撞道歉。

Tā wèi zìjǐ niánqīng shí de mǎngzhuàng dàoqiàn.

He apologized for his recklessness in his youth.

一片原在眼前展开。

Yī piàn mǎngyuán zài yǎnqián zhǎnkāi.

A vast wilderness unfolded before his eyes.

历史的洪流不可阻挡。

Lìshǐ de mǎngmǎng hóngliú bùkě zǔdǎng.

The vast torrent of history is unstoppable.

这篇小说充满草英雄的气息。

Zhè piān xiǎoshuō chōngmǎn cǎomǎng yīngxióng de qìxī.

This novel is full of the aura of heroes from the greenwood.

深入这片苍的山林需要勇气。

Shēnrù zhè piàn mǎngcāng de shānlín xūyào yǒngqì.

It takes courage to venture deep into this vast and verdant mountain forest.