TongTong
Sign in

满腹 (mǎn fù) — full of (knowledge, complaints, grievances, etc.)

Definition

Literary set phrase meaning 'full of' — used to describe someone brimming with feelings, knowledge, or grievances (e.g. 满腹经纶, 满腹牢骚). Almost always followed by a noun like 委屈, 牢骚, or 经纶.

noun
full of (knowledge, complaints, grievances, etc.)

Examples

  • 满腹纶，。
    Tā mǎn fù jīng lún, què cóng bú xuàn yào.
    He is full of learning, but never shows off.
  • 满腹，。
    Tā mǎn fù wěi qu, què yí jù huà yě méi shuō.
    She was full of grievances, but didn't say a word.
  • ，。
    Bié zǒng shì mǎn fù láo sāo, xiǎng bàn fǎ jiě jué wèn tí.
    Don't always be full of complaints; think of ways to solve the problem.

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.

满mǎnfull
腹fùbelly

满 means full, and 腹 is the belly, giving the image of a belly full of thoughts, knowledge, or complaints.

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
水水shuǐwater
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.

Open 满 →

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
肉肉ròumeat; flesh
Sound part声符shēngfú
复
复fù腹⁰fù
Same sound today

The left part 肉, meaning flesh, shows this is a body part, and the right part 复 gives the sound.

Open 腹 →
Appears in
Body Parts

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.