满载而归 (mǎn zài ér guī) — to return with abundant gains; to come back well rewarded

Definition

Idiom meaning to return home loaded with rewards or gains — used for trips, study, deals, or hunts that paid off handsomely.

idiom
to return with abundant gainsto come back well rewarded

Examples

  • 满载而归，。
    Zhè cì lǚ xíng wǒ men mǎn zài ér guī, mǎi le hěn duō jì niàn pǐn.
    This trip we came back with a full load — we bought a lot of souvenirs.
  • ，满载而归。
    Tā zài péi xùn zhōng xué dào le hěn duō xīn zhī shi, mǎn zài ér guī.
    He learned a lot of new knowledge during the training and returned well rewarded.
  • ，满载而归，。
    Jīn tiān de pāi mài huì shàng, tā mǎn zài ér guī, pāi dào le sān jiàn zhēn pǐn.
    At today's auction, he came back with a full load — he won three treasures.

Origin

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 載; 载 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūchariot
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢦏
𢦏𢦏載zài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 載 has 車, a chariot, and 𢦏 gives the sound; 载 is its simplified form.

Open 载 →

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

The shape of 而 is a picture of a beard.

Open 而 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 歸; 归 is its simplified writing.

  • 𠂤𠂤𠂤ancient form of {{zh-l|*師|troops}}
  • 帚帚zhǒubroom; sweep

The traditional form 歸 combines 𠂤 (troops) and 帚 (broom; sweep) to show sweeping away an enemy and returning; the simplified 归 is a later abbreviation.

Open 归 →

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