望月 (wàng yuè) — full moon (astronomical phase)

Definition

A literary or poetic term for the full moon — emphasizes gazing at / longing for the moon. Prefer 满月 in neutral or scientific contexts.

noun
full moon (astronomical phase)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 望月，。
    Jīn wǎn de wàng yuè tè bié yuán, fēi cháng shì hé shǎng yuè.
    Tonight's full moon is especially round, perfect for moon-gazing.
  • 望月，。
    Gǔ dài shī rén cháng yǐ wàng yuè wéi tí, jì tuō sī xiāng zhī qíng.
    Ancient poets often used the full moon as a theme to express homesickness.
  • 望月180。
    wàng yuè Shì zhǐ yuè qiú yǔ tài yáng huáng jīng xiāng chā 180 dù shí de zhuàng tài.
    The full moon refers to the state when the moon is 180 degrees apart from the sun in ecliptic longitude.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

望wàngfull moon
月yuèmoon

望 gives the full moon phase and 月 gives the moon, yielding full moon.

Characters in this word

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

  • 臣臣chéneye
  • 𡈼𡈼𡈼person standing on the ground

望 originally showed 臣 (eye) beside 𡈼 (person standing on the ground): a person standing up and looking off into the distance. Later 月 was added, and the 臣 part became 亡.

Open 望 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

月 was drawn as a crescent moon, with the curved outline showing the moon’s shape.

Open 月 →

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