満 means “full, satisfied”

みちる · michiru

Also: fullness, enough, satisfy

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): みちる, みつ, みたす
On'yomi (Chinese reading): マン, バン

Taught in grade 4 · 12 strokes

The story

Water (氵) filling a vessel completely: brimming to the edge. 満月 (mangetsu, full moon) is celebrated in Japan's 月見 (tsukimi, moon-viewing) tradition, where families gather to watch the harvest moon. 満足 (manzoku, satisfaction) is being completely filled with contentment. 満開 (mankai, full bloom) is the peak moment of cherry blossom season, the fullness before petals fall.

Used in 満月 (mangetsu, full moon), 満足 (manzoku, satisfaction), and 満開 (mankai, full bloom)

Where it comes from

Phonetic-Semantic (形声文字): Water filling a vessel to the brim.

The water radical (氵) with a component meaning "brimming": water filling something to capacity. Fullness is the moment just before overflow.

To remember it: Water (氵) filled to the very brim: completely FULL!

Words with 満

満月 (まんげつ, mangetsu): full moon
満足 (まんぞく, manzoku): satisfaction

Example sentences

満月がきれいです。 The full moon is beautiful.
とても満足しています。 I am very satisfied.

More from Measurement & Size

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