蓬蓬 (péng péng) — luxuriant, abundant, bushy (of vegetation, hair…

Definition

A reduplicated bound form used after a noun as an adjective-like onomatopoeia: 蓬蓬的 for lush, bushy vegetation or hair, and ∼ on its own for the booming/roaring sound of wind.

bound form

luxuriantabundantbushy (of vegetation, hair, etc.)boomingblustery (sound of wind)

Examples

蓬蓬，。
Tā de tóu fa péng péng de, kàn qǐ lái hěn jiǔ méi lǐ le.
His hair is bushy, looks like he hasn't had a haircut in a long time.
蓬蓬，。
Shān pō shàng de yě cǎo cháng dé péng péng de, bǐ rén hái gāo.
The wild grass on the hillside grows so thick it's taller than a person.
蓬蓬，。
Wài miàn fēng shēng péng péng, xiàng shì yào qǐ fēng bào le.
The wind outside is roaring, as if a storm is about to break.

Origin

Reduplicated word

构词法gòucífǎ

重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

蓬péngluxuriant

The repeated 蓬 intensifies the sense of luxuriant, bushy growth.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艸艸cǎovegetation

Sound part声符shēngfú

逢

逢féng蓬péng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

蓬 pairs 艸 (vegetation) with 逢, which gives the sound.

Open 蓬 →