About
The character "慢" is structured with a semantic component on the left, the heart radical (忄), and a phonetic component on the right, "曼" which originally suggested something prolonged or extended. This construction points to an initial meaning related to a state of mind, specifically arrogance or disdain, where the heart is considered drawn out or inattentive towards others. From this psychological foundation of haughtiness and emotional disregard, the meaning gradually extended to describe actions performed with a lack of urgency or care, eventually settling into its primary modern sense of slowness in speed or tempo. This semantic shift reflects a movement from an internal, subjective attitude to an external, observable quality, while the character's form, particularly in its traditional version which maintains the same components, has consistently preserved this conceptual link between the heart and the quality of being unhurried or delayed.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
请慢点走。
他说话速度很慢。
这辆火车比较慢。
我爷爷做事总是很慢。
别着急，慢慢来。
他是个慢性子的人。
我慢慢习惯了这里的生活。
享受这种慢慢变化的过程吧。