猛将 (měng jiàng) — valiant general; fierce commander

Definition

noun
valiant generalfierce commander
Measure word · 员

Examples

  • 猛将，。
    Zhè wèi měng jiàng shēn jīng bǎi zhàn, cóng wèi dǎ guò bài zhàng.
    This valiant general has fought a hundred battles and never lost.
  • 猛将。
    Lì shǐ shàng xǔ duō měng jiàng dōu shì zài nián qīng shí zhǎn lù tóu jiǎo de.
    Many fierce generals in history first made their mark when they were young.
  • 猛将，。
    Tā zài shāng jiè yě xiàng yì yuán měng jiàng, léi lì fēng xíng.
    He is also like a valiant general in the business world, vigorous and decisive.

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.

猛měngfierce
将jiānggeneral

猛 'fierce' + 将 'general' gives a valiant commander.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犬犬quǎn
Sound part声符shēngfú
孟
孟mèng猛
Same sound today

猛 pairs 犬 (dog) with 孟, and 孟 gives the sound.

Open 猛 →

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 將; 将 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròumeat
寸寸cùnhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
爿
爿pán將jiāng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 將 combines 爿, which also supplies a sound and may show a small table, with ⺼ (meat) and 寸 (hand) to picture offering meat as tribute. The simplified 将 is a later shorthand.

Open 将 →

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