Definitions

méng (verb) to sprout; to bud
méng (adjective) cute; adorable

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

As a phono-semantic compound, 萌 uses the grass radical 艹 at the top to place it in the semantic category of plants and vegetation. The lower component 明, meaning "bright", provides the phonetic element while also suggesting the clarity of new shoots emerging from the soil. The original meaning refers to plants budding or sprouting, particularly in early agriculture. In modern usage, the character has been adopted from Japanese internet slang to describe something or someone as overwhelmingly cute, especially in digital culture.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这只小猫很

Zhè zhǐ xiǎo māo hěn méng.

This little cat is very cute.

她的笑容特别

Tā de xiàoróng tèbié méng.

Her smile is especially cute.

春天植物都发了。

Chūntiān zhíwù dōu méngfā le.

In spring, plants all sprout.

种子在土壤中芽。

Zhǒngzi zài tǔrǎng zhōng méng yá.

Seeds sprout in the soil.

孩子们生了新想法。

Háizimen méngshēng le xīn xiǎngfǎ.

The children conceived new ideas.

这部电影里的角色很

Zhè bù diànyǐng lǐ de juésè hěn méng.

The characters in this movie are very cute.

那个动漫人物设计得超级

Nàge dòngmàn rénwù shèjì dé chāojí méng.

That anime character is designed to be super cute.

他看到小狗时生了养宠物的念头。

Tā kàn dào xiǎo gǒu shí méngshēng le yǎng chǒngwù de niàntou.

When he saw the puppy, he conceived the idea of keeping a pet.