Definitions

màn (adjective) free; unrestrained
màn (verb) to flood; to inundate

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character combines the water radical for meaning with the phonetic (màn). It first denoted water overflowing its banks and spreading far and wide unchecked. This core image of unbounded flow gave rise to a general spatial sense of vastness and boundlessness. From there, the meaning shifted to the human sphere, describing free, unrestrained, or casual behavior and speech, a usage preserved in modern compounds for leisurely strolling and sprawling, unstructured conversation.

Etymology Hide

Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢看画。

Wǒ xǐhuān kàn mànhuà.

I like reading comics.

这条路很长。

Zhè tiáo lù hěn màncháng.

This road is very long.

他喜欢在河边步。

Tā xǐhuān zài hébiān mànbù.

He likes strolling by the river.

他们的爱情很浪

Tāmen de àiqíng hěn làngmàn.

Their love is very romantic.

烟雾弥了整个房间。

Yānwù mímàn le zhěnggè fángjiān.

Smoke filled the entire room.

我们游了欧洲多个国家。

Wǒmen mànyóu le Ōuzhōu duō gè guójiā.

We wandered through many countries in Europe.

教授和我们谈人生哲理。

Jiàoshòu hé wǒmen màntán rénshēng zhélǐ.

The professor chatted with us about life philosophy.

天雪花纷纷扬扬地落下。

Màntiān xuěhuā fēnfēnyángyáng de luòxià.

Snowflakes fall all over the sky, fluttering down.