About
蔓 is a phono-semantic compound. The grass radical 艹 at the top places it in the botanical category. The lower component 曼 provides the phonetic element and also historically conveys a sense of length or extension. Its primary meaning refers to the long, trailing stems of climbing plants like melons or ivy. From this physical growth pattern of stretching outward, the character's sense expanded to describe the spreading or extending of things in a more abstract way. It is commonly used in compounds to depict the uncontrolled spread of diseases, the rapid diffusion of rumors, or the far-reaching extension of plant tendrils.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
藤蔓爬上了墙。
蔓延的植物很美丽。
防止火灾蔓延很重要。
瓜蔓上结了几个小瓜。
这种杂草的蔓生能力很强。
蔓延的趋势需要及时控制。
藤蔓植物在热带雨林中很常见。
为了阻止疫情蔓延，政府采取了严格措施。