盛

• Pinyin: chéng
• Hanzi breakdown: 盛 = 成 (accomplish, phonetic) + 皿 (vessel) = to fill/contain

Meaning

To hold; to contain; to ladle (food). To put something into a container.

Pronounced chéng when meaning 'to hold/contain.' Used for serving food (盛饭, 盛菜) or for containers holding things. Note: pronounced shèng when meaning 'flourishing/prosperous.'

Examples

1. 妈妈用大碗给我盛了满满一碗饭。 Mom used a big bowl to serve me a heaping bowl of rice.
2. 这个盒子太小，盛不下这么多东西。 This box is too small; it can't hold so many things.
3. 服务员给每位客人盛了一碗热汤。 The waiter served each guest a bowl of hot soup.

Usage Guide

Context: dining, serving, containers

Tone: everyday

Do Say

• 给我盛点汤吧。(Ladle me some soup, please.)
• 这个罐子能盛五斤米。(This jar can hold five jin of rice.)

Don't Say

• 盛水到杯子里 (For pouring liquids into cups, use 倒 or 装; 盛 is more for ladling from a pot)

Origin & History

Original meaning relates to putting things into vessels. The character shows 成 (accomplish) + 皿 (vessel), suggesting filling a container.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal