满满 (mǎn mǎn) — completely full, filled to the brim

Definition

A bound reduplicative adverb meaning 'completely full' — typically placed before a noun or used after a verb to intensify 满 (e.g. 装得满满的).

bound form

completely fullfilled to the brim

满满。
Bēi zi lǐ zhuāng dé mǎn mǎn de.
The cup is filled to the brim.
满满，。
mǎn mǎn De yì zhuō cài, wǒ men dōu chī bù wán.
A table full of dishes — we can't finish them all.
，满满。
Tā de shū bāo sāi mǎn le shū, mǎn mǎn de.
His backpack is stuffed with books, completely full.

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.

满 full is doubled, stressing that something is completely filled.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 滿; 满 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

㒼

㒼㒼滿mǎn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 滿 pairs 水, showing water, with 㒼, giving the sound. The simplified 满 is a later shorthand, not the original shape.