滿

mǎn

fill; full, satisfied

Meaning

The threshold of capacity. This includes: (1) Physical filling or overflowing; (2) Temporal or quantitative completion, such as the expiration of a term, contract, or mourning period; (3) Psychological states ranging from contentment to arrogance and hubris, where "fullness" is often presented as a precursor to decline.

Grammar and usage

Functions as a transitive verb (to fill up), an intransitive verb (to become full/overflow), or a stative adjective (full; complete). It also serves as a resultative complement indicating that an action has been carried out to its absolute limit or total completion.

Distinctions

Contrast with 充 (//chōng//): while 充 generally refers to filling a void, supplementing, or meeting a requirement/role (the act of occupying space), 滿 focuses on the limit of capacity and the threshold of overflow.

History and forms

Simplified variant: U+6EE1.

Translator notes

In contexts involving rain, rivers, or containers, prioritize "overflowing" or "flooding" over a static sense of fullness.

Decontextualized translator aid. This page describes plausible lexical range; it does not choose what the glyph means in a particular passage.