萌芽

méngyá

noun HSK 7 #22,036

Meanings

1 sprout
2 bud
3 germ
4 embryonic form

Characters

to sprout; to bud

bud; sprout; shoot

Examples

春天，小草萌芽了。

Chūntiān, xiǎocǎo méngyá le.

In spring, the grass sprouted.

资本主义萌芽出现在明朝。

Zīběnzhǔyì méngyá chūxiàn zài Míngcháo.

The sprouts of capitalism appeared in the Ming Dynasty.

这个计划还在萌芽阶段。

Zhège jìhuà hái zài méngyá jiēduàn.

This plan is still in its embryonic stage.

Tips

usage

萌芽 is commonly used figuratively to describe the early stage of something developing: 萌芽阶段 (embryonic stage), 萌芽状态 (budding state). It can also be used as a verb meaning 'to sprout.'

memory

萌 (sprout) + 芽 (bud) — both characters have the grass radical 艹 on top, reinforcing the image of new green growth pushing through soil.

Stroke Order

萌 méng

芽 yá