Chinese Character: 蒙
1. Character Basics
Radical: 艹 (cǎo) - Grass radical
Stroke Count: 13 strokes
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: This is a polyphonic character with three main pronunciations:
- méng (Second tone) - cover; deceive; ignorant
- mēng (First tone) - hoodwink; guess blindly
- měng (Third tone) - Mongolia; ethnic Mongolian
3. Meaning
The meaning varies depending on pronunciation:
- méng: To cover; to hide; to deceive; ignorant; unclear; suffer; receive
- mēng: To hoodwink; to deceive; to guess blindly; to lose consciousness
- měng: Mongolia; ethnic Mongolian
4. Common Words
- 蒙蔽 (méngbì) - To hoodwink; to deceive; to blindfold
- 蒙蒙细雨 (méngméng xìyǔ) - Drizzling rain
- 启蒙 (qǐméng) - To enlighten; to initiate; primary education
- 承蒙 (chéngméng) - To be indebted to; to receive (favor)
- 瞎蒙 (xiāmēng) - To guess blindly; to take a wild guess
- 蒙骗 (mēngpiàn) - To deceive; to cheat
- 蒙古 (Měnggǔ) - Mongolia
- 蒙古族 (Měnggǔzú) - Mongolian ethnic group
5. Grammar & Usage
The usage of "蒙" varies significantly with its different pronunciations. As méng, it is often used in verb phrases meaning "to cover" or "to deceive." As mēng, it is colloquially used to mean "to guess blindly" or "to deceive." As měng, it is primarily used in proper nouns related to Mongolia or the Mongolian people. Pay attention to context to determine the correct pronunciation and meaning.
6. Cultural Background
The character "蒙" has rich cultural significance. In traditional Chinese culture, "启蒙" (qǐméng) refers to the important process of childhood education and intellectual development. The pronunciation "měng" is closely associated with China's Mongolian ethnic minority and their rich cultural heritage, including their history, language, and traditions. The character's multiple meanings reflect the complexity and depth of Chinese language and culture.
7. Example Sentence
孩子需要启蒙教育。
Háizi xūyào qǐméng jiàoyù.
Children need early education.
8. Memory Tips
The character "蒙" consists of the grass radical "艹" and "冡" (méng). You can remember it as "grass covering the head," which relates to its meaning of "to cover" or "to hide." The lower part "冡" looks like a head covered by a hat, reinforcing the idea of covering. For the pronunciation variations, associate "méng" with covering, "mēng" with deception, and "měng" with Mongolia.