Definitions

méng (verb) to cover; to conceal
mēng (verb) to deceive; to cheat
mēng (adjective) dazed; stunned
méng (adjective) ignorant; uninformed
měng (noun) Mongol; Mongolia
méng (noun) mist; drizzle

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Originally the name of a plant, later meanings coincide with the original meaning of (to cover).

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "蒙" originates from the concept of covering or obscuring, a notion embedded in its structure where the grass radical "艹" is placed over a component implying enclosure or protection, which historically informed its early meanings related to hiding, shading, or being in darkness. These literal senses naturally extended into metaphorical territories, such as denoting ignorance or a lack of enlightenment, as if the mind were covered, and later to meanings involving receiving or incurring, as seen in contexts where one is covered by another's influence or action. Its semantic range further broadened to describe misty or drizzly conditions, leveraging the idea of visual obscurity, and it was adopted for phonetic transliteration in terms like Mongolia. The traditional form of the character, retaining these structural elements, thus encapsulates a progression from concrete covering to a variety of abstract and applied meanings across its historical usage.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Warring States (475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical 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

上眼睛玩捉迷藏很有趣。

Méng shàng yǎnjīng wán zhuōmícáng hěn yǒuqù.

Playing blind man's bluff with eyes covered is very fun.

教育对孩子很重要。

Qǐméng jiàoyù duì háizi hěn zhòngyào.

Enlightenment education is very important for children.

浓雾住了远处的群山。

Nóng wù méngzhù le yuǎnchù de qún shān.

Thick fog shrouded the distant mountains.

他试图用谎言混过关。

Tā shìtú yòng huǎngyán ménghùn guòguān.

He tried to get away with it using lies.

您的关照,非常感谢。

Chéngméng nín de guānzhào, fēicháng gǎnxiè.

I'm very grateful for your kind attention and care.

这段历史被尘封的岁月所蔽。

Zhè duàn lìshǐ bèi chénfēng de suìyuè suǒ méngbì.

This period of history was obscured by the dust of time.

不要被事物的表面现象所惑。

Bùyào bèi shìwù de biǎomiàn xiànxiàng suǒ ménghuò.

Don't be deceived by the superficial appearance of things.

在众多质疑声中,他内心上了一层阴影。

Zài zhòngduō zhìyí shēng zhōng, tā nèixīn méng shàng le yī céng yīnyǐng.

Amidst numerous doubts, a shadow fell over his heart.