About
Composed of the grass radical over the phonetic element 明, the character 萌 initially conveyed the concrete notion of plant buds breaking into the open, a concept embedded in its pictorial logic. Over centuries, its application broadened to abstract beginnings and the incipient stages of events, reflecting a metaphorical shift from botanical to general emergence. However, the most significant transformation occurred in the late 20th century when, influenced by Japanese otaku culture, it was adopted to express a specific type of appealing innocence and charm, ultimately becoming central to the concept of 'moe' and describing characters designed to evoke a strong sense of endearment.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这只小猫很萌。
她的笑容特别萌。
春天植物都萌发了。
种子在土壤中萌芽。
孩子们萌生了新想法。
这部电影里的角色很萌。
那个动漫人物设计得超级萌。
他看到小狗时萌生了养宠物的念头。