Definitions

máng (adjective) busy
máng (verb) to be in a hurry; to rush

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

About

The character "忙" is structured as a phono-semantic compound, integrating the heart radical "忄" with the component "亡", which historically functions as a phonetic marker while conceptually evoking notions of loss or absence, thereby suggesting an original meaning related to a distracted or flustered state of mind where the heart is perceived as missing. Over time, its semantic focus shifted from this internal sense of mental agitation to primarily denote the external condition of being busy or occupied with duties, reflecting a broader alignment with social and occupational demands rather than purely emotional disarray. The character's form has remained consistent, with the heart radical perpetually linking it to psychological or emotional spheres, and the stable phonetic element ensuring its pronunciation, all while the meaning evolved to emphasize busyness without entirely shedding its foundational connotations of preoccupation or rush.

Example Sentences Hide

我今天很

Wǒ jīntiān hěn máng.

I am very busy today.

他每天都很

Tā měitiān dōu hěn máng.

He is busy every day.

请帮做家务。

Qǐng bāngmáng zuò jiāwù.

Please help with the housework.

碌的工作开始了。

Mánglù de gōngzuò kāishǐ le.

The busy work has begun.

得没有时间吃饭。

Tā máng dé méiyǒu shíjiān chīfàn.

She is so busy that she has no time to eat.

尽管很,他还是参加了会议。

Jǐnguǎn hěn máng, tā háishì cānjiā le huìyì.

Although he is busy, he still attended the meeting.

为了完成项目,大家了整个星期。

Wèile wánchéng xiàngmù, dàjiā máng le zhěnggè xīngqī.

In order to complete the project, everyone was busy for the whole week.

在繁的都市生活中,人们常常忘记放松。

Zài fánmáng de dūshì shēnghuó zhōng, rénmen chángcháng wàngjì fàngsōng.

In busy urban life, people often forget to relax.