满

• Pinyin: mǎn
• Hanzi breakdown: 满 = 氵 (water) + 㒼 (phonetic) — originally water filling to the brim

Meaning

Full; filled; to be satisfied. Describes something that has reached capacity or completeness.

Used for physical fullness (a full cup, a full room) and abstract completeness (满意 satisfied, 满足 content). Also used for reaching a certain age or time period: 满十八岁 (turned eighteen). Common in 满…的 pattern for emphasis.

Examples

1. 杯子里的水满了。 The glass is full of water.
2. 电影院已经坐满了人。 The cinema is already packed with people.
3. 他满脸笑容地走了进来。 He walked in with a big smile on his face.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, description

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 车上人满了，等下一趟吧。(The bus is full — let's wait for the next one.)
• 我已经吃得很满了。(I'm already very full from eating.)

Don't Say

• 不要说'我很满'表示满意 (Don't say 我很满 to mean satisfied — use 我很满意; 满 alone means physically full)

Origin & History

Phonosemantic character: 氵 (water radical) + 㒼 (phonetic). Originally described water filling a container to the brim.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal