慢慢 (màn màn) — slowly; gradually | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

慢慢 is a reduplicated adverb meaning 'slowly' or 'gradually' — reduplication (AA) softens the tone of 慢 and marks an unhurried, often continuous pace. Modifies a verb directly or with 地.

adverb

slowlygradually

Examples

，。
Tā xìng gé hěn jí, zuò shén me shì dōu bù néng màn màn lái.
He has a very impatient personality and can't do anything slowly.
慢慢，。
màn màn Dì, tài yáng cóng shān hòu shēng qǐ lái le.
Slowly, the sun rose from behind the mountains.
慢慢，。
Qǐng nǐ màn màn shuō, wǒ tīng bú tài qīng chǔ.
Please speak slowly; I can't hear very clearly.

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.

慢mànslow

The two “慢” “slow” combine to mean slowly or gradually.

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.

忄曼慢

Meaning part形符xíngfú

忄Written in full as心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

曼

曼màn慢màn

Same sound today

慢 pairs 忄 (heart) with 曼 (màn). The heart part points to a manner or sluggish behavior, while 曼’s meaning “long, extended” adds the sense of taking a long time.

Open 慢 →