盛

shèng, chéng

成 + 皿

HSK 2.0Level 6

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

shèng (adjective) flourishing; prosperous; magnificent

chéng (verb) to hold; to contain; to serve (food)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 皿 represents the meaning and 成 represents the sound.

Semantic: 皿 Phonetic: 成

About

The character 盛 encompasses the ideas of "to hold, contain" and "flourishing, abundant, magnificent". It is a phono-semantic compound: 皿 (mǐn, "vessel") at the bottom indicates a receptacle for grain or offerings, while 成 (chéng) on top provides the sound and means "to accomplish". As the verb chéng, it refers to the literal act of filling a bowl or vessel with food. As the adjective shèng, it describes a state of overflowing abundance, when a situation, flower, or society is thriving, prosperous, and at its peak.

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

公园里的花盛开了。

Gōngyuán lǐ de huā shèngkāi le.

The flowers in the park have bloomed.

她盛装出席晚会。

Tā shèngzhuāng chūxí wǎnhuì.

She dressed up to attend the evening party.

这个地区盛产水果。

Zhège dìqū shèngchǎn shuǐguǒ.

This region abounds in fruits.

他们举行了盛大的婚礼。

Tāmen jǔxíng le shèngdà de hūnlǐ.

They held a grand wedding.

这种风格现在很盛行。

Zhè zhǒng fēnggé xiànzài hěn shèngxíng.

This style is very popular now.

感谢您的盛情款待。

Gǎnxiè nín de shèngqíng kuǎndài.

Thank you for your kind hospitality.

观众盛赞这场表演。

Guānzhòng shèngzàn zhè chǎng biǎoyǎn.

The audience highly praised this performance.

节日期间盛况空前。

Jiéri qījiān shèngkuàng kōngqián.

During the festival, the grand occasion is unprecedented.

Related Characters

Component: 成

Component: 皿

Example Words