mang4 sang1萌生
Jyutpingmang4 sang1
Yalemàhng sāng
Definition
To start growing an idea; to sprout or conceive a thought.
writtenother
How it's used
Literary in tone, this word is typically reserved for abstract concepts like intentions, ideas, or feelings rather than physical plants. It implies a slow, internal process where a thought gradually takes root in the mind. It is most frequently paired with nouns like 念頭, 去意, or 想法.
Examples
He has recently started to consider changing jobs.
When did you start to develop this idea?
Related words
Common phrases
to have an idea start to form
to start thinking about leaving or resigning
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe the physical growth of plants, as that would sound unnatural and overly formal in daily speech. It is strictly for psychological or abstract developments.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
