mang4萌
Jyutpingmang4
Yalemàhng
Definition
To bud or sprout, or figuratively, to begin to emerge or develop.
writtennaturedescriptions
How it's used
Primarily used in formal or literary contexts to describe the initial stage of growth for plants or abstract concepts like ideas and feelings. Unlike everyday verbs for starting something, this carries a sense of organic, subtle emergence. It is rarely used as a standalone verb in casual speech, appearing mostly in compound words.
Examples
The flowers in the garden have started to sprout.
Has your plan been brewing for a long time?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the internet slang 萌, which is a loanword from Japanese meaning cute or adorable. In traditional Cantonese, the character refers strictly to botanical sprouting or the inception of an idea.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
