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茂盛 (mào shèng) — lush, luxuriant (of vegetation)

Definition

Describes vegetation growing vigorously and abundantly. Compared to 茂密 (focused on leaves/branches being thickly packed), 茂盛 emphasizes overall healthy, flourishing growth.

adjective
lushluxuriant (of vegetation)

Examples

  • 茂盛。
    Yuàn zi lǐ de huā cǎo cháng dé shí fēn mào shèng.
    The flowers and grass in the yard are very lush.
  • 茂盛，。
    Zhè piàn zhú lín fēi cháng mào shèng, zhē zhù le yáng guāng.
    This bamboo grove is very lush, blocking the sunlight.
  • 茂盛，。
    Yǔ hòu de tián yě yí piàn mào shèng, lǜ yóu yóu de.
    After the rain, the fields are lush and green.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

茂màolush
盛shèngflourishing

茂 and 盛 both describe plants growing thickly and strongly, so together they mean lush.

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
艸艸cǎograss
Sound part声符shēngfú
戊
戊wù茂mào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape 茂 pairs 艸 (grass) with 戊, which gives the sound.

Open 茂 →

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
皿皿mǐn
Sound part声符shēngfú
成
成chéng盛shèng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

盛 combines 成 as a sound part with 皿 as a meaning part; the 皿 side points to a vessel, which fits meanings such as hold and fill.

Open 盛 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Plants & Flowers

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