毛茸茸 (máo rǒng rǒng) — soft and fluffy (of fur, hair, or down)

Definition

Reduplicated descriptive form (状态词) meaning covered in soft, fuzzy hair or down — used as a modifier before a noun, often of animals, buds, or fabrics. Carries an endearing, cute feel.

bound form

soft and fluffy (of fur, hair, or down)

Examples

毛茸茸。
Zhè zhī máo rǒng rǒng de xiǎo māo fēi cháng kě ài.
This fluffy kitten is very cute.
毛茸茸。
Shù zhī shàng cháng chū le máo rǒng rǒng de xīn yá.
Fuzzy new buds have grown on the branches.
毛茸茸，。
Tā dài zhe yì tiáo máo rǒng rǒng de wéi jīn, kàn qǐ lái hěn nuǎn huo.
She is wearing a fluffy scarf and looks very warm.

Origin

Derived word

构词法gòucífǎ

后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

毛máofur

茸茸soft downy

茸róngdowny茸róngdowny

毛 gives the idea of hair or fur, and 茸茸 adds a soft, downy texture.

Characters in this word

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

毛 is drawn as a feather or hair, with its strokes tracing the shape of the feather or hair.

Open 毛 →

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cǎograss

Sound part声符shēngfú

聰

聰cōng茸

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

The form 茸 combines 艸, a grass part, with 聰, which gives a clue to its sound.