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启蒙 (qǐ méng) — to enlighten, to educate (especially the young) out of ignorance

Definition

启蒙 (qǐméng) means to introduce a child or beginner to a field — to open their eyes to it for the first time. It is broader and more foundational than 启发, which sparks insight in someone who already knows the subject.

verb
to enlightento educate (especially the young) out of ignorance

Examples

  • 启蒙。
    Zhè běn shū bāng zhù qǐ méng le hěn duō hái zi.
    This book helped enlighten many children.
  • 。
    Ōu zhōu qǐ méng yùn dòng duì shì jiè yǐng xiǎng hěn dà.
    The European Enlightenment had a great influence on the world.
  • 启蒙。
    Tā shì yí wèi zhù míng de qǐ méng sī xiǎng jiā.
    He is a famous enlightenment thinker.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

启qǐopen
蒙méngignorance

启 means open and 蒙 means ignorance, so it opens a mind from ignorance.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 啟; 启 is its simplified writing.

For 启, the traditional form 啟 comes from an earlier shape with 戶 (door) and 又 (hand), showing a hand opening a door.

Open 启 →

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
艹Written in full as艸cǎograss
Sound part声符shēngfú
冡
冡měng蒙méng
Same sound today

蒙 combines 艹 (grass) with 冡, which supplies the sound.

Open 蒙 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9School & Education

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