Meanings of 盛
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About 盛
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Podcast: 盛
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AI study notes for 盛
盛 (chéng) vs 装 (zhuāng) — use 盛 when emphasizing abundance or flourishing, while 装 focuses on the act of packing or filling something.
Be careful not to confuse 盛 (chéng) with other similar-sounding characters, such as 城 (chéng), which means 'city.' This word is more formal and is often used in literary contexts, so it's less common in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 盛情 (shèngqíng, warm hospitality) and 盛会 (shènghuì, grand gathering).
As a level 6 HSK word, 盛 (chéng) connects well with other words describing abundance or flourishing, such as 丰富 (fēngfù, rich) and 繁荣 (fánróng, prosperous). Focus on how this word can be used in different contexts to express vitality and richness.
Learners often mix up 盛 (chéng) and 省 (shěng), which means 'to save' or 'to economize.' For example, saying '我想省水' (Wǒ xiǎng chéng shuǐ) is incorrect; it should be '我想省水' to mean 'I want to save water.'
Pronunciation of 盛
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Jason Explains 盛 to you
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Etymology of 盛
Phonosemantic compound. 皿 represents the meaning and 成 represents the sound.
dish
Origin
盛 = 皿 + 成. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 盛
Parts
Which of these is part of 盛?
How to say to hold in Chinese
“to hold” in Chinese is盛
The character 盛 (chéng) primarily means 'to hold' or 'to contain.' It is commonly used in contexts related to abundance or flourishing, such as 盛开 (shèngkāi), meaning 'to bloom profusely.' Additionally, it can refer to a surname and is often associated with magnificence or vitality.
When to use 盛
Be careful not to confuse 盛 (chéng) with other similar-sounding characters, such as 城 (chéng), which means 'city.' This word is more formal and is often used in literary contexts, so it's less common in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 盛情 (shèngqíng, warm hospitality) and 盛会 (shènghuì, grand gathering).
盛 or something close to it
盛 (chéng) vs 装 (zhuāng) — use 盛 when emphasizing abundance or flourishing, while 装 focuses on the act of packing or filling something.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mix up 盛 (chéng) and 省 (shěng), which means 'to save' or 'to economize.' For example, saying '我想省水' (Wǒ xiǎng chéng shuǐ) is incorrect; it should be '我想省水' to mean 'I want to save water.'
Write 盛
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Practice writing 盛 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar patterns of 盛
盛 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 10 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
阿根廷____夏的酷热真让我大吃一惊。
I was simply staggered by the heat of the Argentinian high-summer.
Example sentences for 盛 (10)
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Word Family of 盛
Words with 盛
What does 华盛顿 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 盛
Common phrases include 盛情 (shèngqíng, warm hospitality) and 盛开 (shèngkāi, to bloom profusely).
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