Definitions

péng (adjective) disheveled; messy
péng (adjective) luxuriant; growing abundantly
péng (noun) fleabane plant

Etymology phono-semantic

plant

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 蓬, whose traditional form is the same as its simplified counterpart, is composed of the grass radical (艹) atop the phonetic component 逢, which also carries a connotation of meeting or gathering. Its earliest core meaning referred to a type of robust, tangled vegetation, specifically fleabane, a plant known for its dense, disheveled growth. This inherent sense of wild, untidy profusion naturally extended its meaning to describe anything with a similar rough, fluffy, or disorderly appearance, such as unkempt hair. From this foundation, the character further developed more abstract applications, often in binomes, to convey a sense of vigorous, flourishing abundance, as in 蓬勃 (péngbó), or to denote a humble, thatched dwelling, implied in the term 蓬荜 (péngbì), where it suggests a roof of coarse vegetation.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
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

她的头发很松。

Tā de tóufa hěn péngsōng.

Her hair is very fluffy.

松的枕头很舒服。

Péngsōng de zhěntou hěn shūfu.

Fluffy pillows are very comfortable.

花园里的草长得乱。

Huāyuán lǐ de cǎo zhǎng de péngluàn.

The grass in the garden grows disheveled.

经济发展勃有力。

Jīngjì fāzhǎn péngbó yǒulì.

The economic development is vigorous and strong.

莱是传说中的仙岛。

Pénglái shì chuánshuō zhōng de xiāndǎo.

Penglai is a legendary fairy island.

新公司呈现勃生机。

Xīn gōngsī chéngxiàn péngbó shēngjī.

The new company shows vigorous vitality.

这场雨让野草勃丛生。

Zhè chǎng yǔ ràng yěcǎo péngbó cóngshēng.

This rain made the weeds grow vigorously and densely.

松的云朵在蓝天飘浮。

Péngsōng de yúnduǒ zài lántiān piāofú.

Fluffy clouds float in the blue sky.