Definitions

péng (adjective) disheveled; messy
péng (adjective) luxuriant; growing abundantly
péng (noun) fleabane plant

Etymology phono-semantic

plant

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "蓬" is structured with the grass radical "艹" positioned above the phonetic component "逢", indicating its original botanical reference to a type of weed known for its fluffy, wind-scattered seeds. This association with disheveled plant morphology led to extended meanings describing fluffy or untidy textures, as seen in the term "蓬松". Over time, while still denoting the plant, the character acquired broader applications in literary contexts to convey overgrown or unkempt vegetation, and it became entrenched in proper nouns such as "蓬莱". The phonetic element "逢" serves primarily to guide pronunciation without imparting semantic content to the compound.

Etymology Hide

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

Example Sentences Hide

她的头发很松。

Tā de tóufa hěn péngsōng.

Her hair is very fluffy.

松的枕头很舒服。

Péngsōng de zhěntou hěn shūfu.

Fluffy pillows are very comfortable.

花园里的草长得乱。

Huāyuán lǐ de cǎo zhǎng de péngluàn.

The grass in the garden grows disheveled.

经济发展勃有力。

Jīngjì fāzhǎn péngbó yǒulì.

The economic development is vigorous and strong.

莱是传说中的仙岛。

Pénglái shì chuánshuō zhōng de xiāndǎo.

Penglai is a legendary fairy island.

新公司呈现勃生机。

Xīn gōngsī chéngxiàn péngbó shēngjī.

The new company shows vigorous vitality.

这场雨让野草勃丛生。

Zhè chǎng yǔ ràng yěcǎo péngbó cóngshēng.

This rain made the weeds grow vigorously and densely.

松的云朵在蓝天飘浮。

Péngsōng de yúnduǒ zài lántiān piāofú.

Fluffy clouds float in the blue sky.