萌动 (méng dòng) — to sprout (of plants); to start, to initiate (an action, trend, etc.)

Definition

Literary verb for something just beginning to stir or sprout — often used for feelings, ideas, or natural growth, more formal than 开始. Common in figurative writing, less so in everyday speech.

verb
to sprout (of plants)to startto initiate (an action, trend, etc.)

Examples

  • ，萌动。
    Chūn tiān lái le, zhǒng zi kāi shǐ méng dòng.
    Spring has come, and the seeds begin to sprout.
  • 萌动。
    Zhè cì yùn dòng méng dòng le shè huì de biàn gé.
    This movement initiated social change.
  • 萌动。
    Tā de xīn zhōng méng dòng le yì zhǒng xīn de xiǎng fǎ.
    A new idea sprouted in his heart.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

萌méngsprout
动dòngstir

萌 means sprout and 动 means stir, together suggesting something starting to move.

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
艹Written in full as艸cǎograss; plant
Sound part声符shēngfú
明
明míng萌méng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The top 艹 shows a plant, and the bottom 明 gives the sound for 萌.

Open 萌 →

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 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng動dòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

Open 动 →

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