茂盛

• Pinyin: mào shèng
• Hanzi breakdown: 茂 = 艹 (grass/plant) + 戊 (phonetic) — flourishing plants; 盛 = 成 (accomplish) + 皿 (vessel) — full vessel, prosperity

Meaning

Luxuriant; thriving; vigorous growth. Describes plants growing with great vitality and abundance.

Similar to 茂密, but 茂盛 emphasises the vigour and vitality of growth rather than just density. It can describe individual plants or ecosystems. Also used figuratively to describe something flourishing or thriving, such as a civilisation, family, or career.

Examples

1. 经过悉心施肥浇水，院子里的花草越长越茂盛，令邻居们羡慕不已。 With careful fertilizing and watering, the flowers and plants in the yard grew more and more lush, to the envy of the neighbors.
2. 黄河流域曾经拥有茂盛的原始森林，历经千年的人类活动才逐渐演变为今天的面貌。 The Yellow River basin once had flourishing primeval forests; only after thousands of years of human activity did it gradually become what it is today.
3. 他祝愿对方家族枝繁叶茂，后代茂盛，世世代代繁荣昌盛。 He wished the other person’s family a thriving lineage and generations of prosperity.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, literary, figurative

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 雨后春笋茂盛地生长，不几日便已长出一大片。(After the rain, bamboo shoots grew vigorously, and within a few days a large patch had sprouted.)
• 在适宜的环境下，这种植物生长得十分茂盛，一年四季都郁郁葱葱。(In a suitable environment, this plant grows luxuriantly, lush and green all year round.)

Don't Say

• 把'茂盛'用于形容建筑物或非生物事物的繁荣 — 形容事业或经济繁荣应用'繁荣'或'兴旺' (Don't use 茂盛 for buildings or non-living things flourishing — use 繁荣 or 兴旺 for business or economic prosperity)

Origin & History

茂 (luxuriant, flourishing) + 盛 (prosperous, vigorous). Together emphasising vigorous, healthy, and flourishing growth.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal