About
The character 蕃, in its traditional form, is composed of the grass radical 艹 atop the component 番, which historically conveyed a sense of turning over or repetition while also serving a phonetic function. Its earliest meanings were connected to the luxuriant growth of plants and vegetation, from which it extended to denote things that are prolific or flourishing. This agricultural sense later broadened into a general concept of thriving and multiplication. Concurrently, the character developed another significant meaning, being used in classical texts to refer to foreign or border regions, often carrying a connotation of lands beyond the direct administrative control of the central states, and by extension, to the peoples inhabiting those frontier territories. Over time, these two semantic branches, one pertaining to botanical abundance and prosperity, and the other to peripheral or foreign domains, coexisted, with the character’s usage shaped by classical context and literary convention.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我喜欢吃蕃茄炒蛋。
妈妈买了新鲜的蕃茄。
这些植物蕃殖得很快。
花园里的草木很蕃茂。
吐蕃是古代的一个王国。
蕃茄富含维生素对健康有益。
他的事业蕃昌如春日草木。
通过精心照料，这片土地的蕃息令人惊叹。