About
The character "蛮" originated in early Chinese texts as a term for southern ethnic groups, with its traditional form "蠻" structurally composed of the semantic element "虫" representing insects or reptiles and the phonetic component "䜌", conveying an ancient linkage between these populations and perceived wild, infested landscapes. Originally a neutral demographic identifier, its meaning progressively shifted to carry derogatory implications, broadening to characterize any uncultured, fierce, or obstinate conduct. Over time, the semantic focus moved entirely from ethnic designation to abstract qualities of roughness and intransigence, with the modern simplified form retaining the "虫" component while the character now primarily serves in lexical compounds to denote rudeness, violence, or unreasonableness.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这个苹果蛮甜的。
他做事蛮认真的。
今天的天气蛮不错的。
这个地方离市中心蛮远的。
她对这个建议蛮感兴趣的。
用蛮力解决不了所有问题。
古代中原人称南方部族为南蛮。
他那种蛮不讲理的态度让人无法沟通。