Definitions

shèng (adjective) flourishing; prosperous; magnificent
chéng (verb) to hold; to contain; to serve (food)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "盛" is composed of the phonetic component "成" above the semantic component "皿", a vessel, indicating its original meaning related to filling a container to capacity. This structure reflects an etymology centered on the act of containing or holding within a receptacle, which formed the basis for its early use denoting fullness. From this concrete sense of a vessel being full, the character's meaning broadened to abstract concepts of abundance and prosperity, such as describing a flourishing age or a sumptuous occasion, and further extended to convey intensity, as in vigorous emotions or widespread influence.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
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

公园里的花开了。

Gōngyuán lǐ de huā shèngkāi le.

The flowers in the park have bloomed.

装出席晚会。

Tā shèngzhuāng chūxí wǎnhuì.

She dressed up to attend the evening party.

这个地区产水果。

Zhège dìqū shèngchǎn shuǐguǒ.

This region abounds in fruits.

他们举行了大的婚礼。

Tāmen jǔxíng le shèngdà de hūnlǐ.

They held a grand wedding.

这种风格现在很行。

Zhè zhǒng fēnggé xiànzài hěn shèngxíng.

This style is very popular now.

感谢您的情款待。

Gǎnxiè nín de shèngqíng kuǎndài.

Thank you for your kind hospitality.

观众赞这场表演。

Guānzhòng shèngzàn zhè chǎng biǎoyǎn.

The audience highly praised this performance.

节日期间况空前。

Jiéri qījiān shèngkuàng kōngqián.

During the festival, the grand occasion is unprecedented.