茫

máng
汒 + 艹

Definitions

máng (adjective) vast; boundless
máng (adjective) hazy; unclear; indistinct

Etymology phono-semantic

grass

Semantic: 艹 Phonetic: 汒

About

茫 is a phono-semantic compound with the grass radical 艹 at the top, linking it to vast, overgrown landscapes. The lower part contains the phonetic component 汪, which includes the water radical 氵, evoking expansive bodies of water. Its core meaning is immense physical vastness, the boundless horizon of an ocean, flooded plains, or endless grasslands. This sense of boundless space naturally extended to describe psychological states of being lost, confused, or having only a vague, indistinct understanding.

Example Sentences Hide

大海一片茫茫。

Dàhǎi yī piàn mángmáng.

The sea is vast and boundless.

他对未来感到迷茫。

Tā duì wèilái gǎndào mímáng.

He feels confused about the future.

她一脸茫然地看着我。

Tā yī liǎn mángrán de kànzhe wǒ.

She looked at me with a blank expression.

沙漠中视野茫茫无边。

Shāmò zhōng shìyě mángmáng wúbiān.

In the desert, the view is vast and boundless.

在人生的十字路口，他有些茫然。

Zài rénshēng de shízì lùkǒu, tā yǒuxiē mángrán.

At the crossroads of life, he is somewhat at a loss.

面对复杂的问题，他感到十分迷茫。

Miànduì fùzá de wèntí, tā gǎndào shífēn mímáng.

Facing a complex problem, he feels very confused.

在浓雾中，四周一片茫茫，我们迷失了方向。

Zài nóng wù zhōng, sìzhōu yī piàn mángmáng, wǒmen míshīle fāngxiàng.

In the thick fog, everything around is vast and blurry, and we lost our way.

对于宇宙的浩瀚，人类总是感到自身的渺小和迷茫。

Duìyú yǔzhòu de hàohàn, rénlèi zǒngshì gǎndào zìshēn de miǎoxiǎo hé mímáng.

Regarding the vastness of the universe, humans always feel their own insignificance and confusion.

Related Characters

Component: 汒

英 花 落 节 苏 苦 若 药 获 范 著 艺 草 藏

Example Words

茫茫 迷茫 渺茫 白茫茫 茫然 苍茫 喝茫 微茫 雾茫茫