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茫茫 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
茫茫mángmángboundlessHSK 7, z, 18 strokes, rank #15205, Very Hard
茫茫mángmángvast and obscureHSK 7, z, 18 strokes, rank #15205, Very Hard
mángmáng(mang2mang2)mang mang T2
  1. 1boundless
  2. 2vast and obscure
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March 24, 2026

茫茫mángmáng(mang2mang2)

茫茫 (mángmáng) describes something that is vast, boundless, and often difficult to perceive or understand, such as a vast landscape or a feeling of confusion. It is commonly used to express feelings of being lost or overwhelmed by the immensity of a situation or environment.

Strokes18Frequency#15205DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese literature and poetry, 茫茫 is often used to evoke feelings of loneliness or existential contemplation, reflecting the deep connection between nature and human emotion.

Memory Tip

Imagine standing in a vast, foggy field where everything blends into a sea of white. The repetition of 'máng' sounds like the mist rolling in, making everything appear茫茫 (mángmáng) and unclear, just like the obscured vision.

Meanings of 茫茫

mángmáng(mang2mang2)
1boundless
2vast and obscure
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 茫茫

茫茫Simplified
18Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#15205Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7HSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 茫茫

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Podcast: 茫茫

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AI Study Notes for 茫茫

Quick Contrast

辽阔 (liáokuò) vs 茫茫 (mángmáng): use 茫茫 when emphasizing feelings of confusion or being lost in vastness, while 辽阔 focuses more on the physical expanse without the emotional nuance.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context when using 茫茫, as it often conveys a sense of confusion or emptiness, which may not be appropriate in formal situations. Common collocations include '茫茫大海' (vast ocean) and '茫茫人海' (sea of people).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 茫茫 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to nature and emotions. Students should focus on using it in descriptive writing to enhance their ability to convey complex feelings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 茫茫 with similar words like 模糊 (móhú, blurry), which indicates a lack of clarity rather than vastness. For example, saying '我看不清这茫茫的字' ('I can't see these boundless characters') is incorrect; instead, use '模糊的字' (blurry characters).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 茫茫

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Component Characters

茫mángvast, with no clear boundary
9 strokes艹
View full entry
茫mángvast, with no clear boundary
9 strokes艹
View full entry

How to say boundless in Chinese

“boundless” in Chinese is茫茫mángmáng

茫茫 (mángmáng) describes something that is vast, boundless, and often difficult to perceive or understand, such as a vast landscape or a feeling of confusion. It is commonly used to express feelings of being lost or overwhelmed by the immensity of a situation or environment.

When to use 茫茫

Be mindful of the context when using 茫茫, as it often conveys a sense of confusion or emptiness, which may not be appropriate in formal situations. Common collocations include '茫茫大海' (vast ocean) and '茫茫人海' (sea of people).

茫茫 or something close to it

辽阔 (liáokuò) vs 茫茫 (mángmáng): use 茫茫 when emphasizing feelings of confusion or being lost in vastness, while 辽阔 focuses more on the physical expanse without the emotional nuance.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 茫茫 with similar words like 模糊 (móhú, blurry), which indicates a lack of clarity rather than vastness. For example, saying '我看不清这茫茫的字' ('I can't see these boundless characters') is incorrect; instead, use '模糊的字' (blurry characters).

Write 茫茫

茫
茫

Practice writing 茫茫 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 茫茫

茫茫 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

黄昏时,我们在____荒野中扎营。

At dusk we pitched camp in the middle of nowhere.

Example Sentences for 茫茫 (2)

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1
黄昏时,我们在茫茫荒野中扎营。

huáng hūn shí, , wǒ mén zài máng máng huāng yě zhōng zā。

At dusk we pitched camp in the middle of nowhere.
2
他的怒火渐渐平息了, 那种茫茫然的麻痹的感觉又兜上了心头.

tā de nù huǒ jiàn jiàn píng xī le, , nà zhǒng máng máng rán de má bì de gǎn jué yòu dōu shàng le xīn.

His anger lapsed, and the numbness of bewilderment returned.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 茫茫

Yes, it can describe feelings of confusion or being overwhelmed, often in relation to vast experiences.

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