1. “IGNORANCE (adj. 1. Belongs to the first stage of formation and development of primitive society, when human life was not much different from animal life. The primitive period of primitive people. 2. (id.). Dark and foolish. Ignorant mind. Ignorant life.”
The character 蒙昧 (mèngmì) is a compound word of Chinese origin [historical meaning]: 蒙 (mèng) means ignorance, obscurity, lack of knowledge (as in 朦朧 (mènglóng); 訓蒙 (xúnmèng) = teaching the basics, dispelling ignorance); 昧 (mìu) means darkness, delusion (as in 迷昧 (mìmì); 暗昧 (yǎnmì). The character 昧 (mìu) meaning darkness is used as a noun to refer to the layer of smoke produced by combustion, called soot or lamp soot.
- Chinese Dictionary: “Mong: 2. to cover, to conceal; 9. figuratively refers to ignorance and lack of knowledge.” [Original text 蒙: 2.覆蓋; 遮蔽; 9.引申為蒙昧無知]; “Muoi: 1. dark, gloomy; 3. foolish, confused; 4. bewildered, deluded.” [Original text 昧: 1.暗, 昏暗; 3.愚昧, 胡塗; 4.迷亂, 惑亂]; “Mei Muoi: 1. dark, foolish; 2. like vague, hazy.” [Original text 蒙昧: 1.昏昧, 愚昧; 2.猶朦朧,迷糊].
- Le Van Duc's dictionary: "mong • noun. To obscure, to darken; Children, foolish: Dong-mong, huan-mong"; "muoi • noun. To be dark, foolish: am-muoi, hon-muoi, hao-muoi, me-muoi, ngu-muoi".
Reference: Mông lung 朦朧, also a compound word of Chinese origin, is easily mistaken for a reduplicated word: mông 朦 = to cover; lung 朧 = dim [The Chinese Dictionary explains lung 朧 = hôn ám mạo 昏暗貌 = lack of light].
2. “DREAMING I. Noun (and verb). Something that appears in the mind while sleeping (generally speaking). A sleep full of dreams. “After a hard day, I hope the night will be free from dreams” (Nguyen Duy).” II. Adjective (id). Futuristic, unrealistic, impractical. Just things that are dreams.”
Mộng mị 夢寐 is a compound word of Chinese origin [historical meaning]: mộng 夢 means dream, daydreaming during sleep (like a dream; dreaming of people from the past); mị 寐 means sleep, deep sleep (like being drowsy):
-The Chinese Dictionary explains: “Dream: 1. In sleep, the cerebral cortex does not completely cease activity, resulting in continued activity within the brain; 2. Illusion; 3. Imagination; 4. Figurative language of fantasy, illusion”; [Original text 夢: 1.睡眠時局部大腦皮質還沒有完全停止活動而引起的腦中的表象活動; 2.做夢; 3.想象; 4.比喻空想,幻想]; “Sleep: to fall asleep, to enter sleep.” [Original text 寐: 1.睡, 入睡]; “Dreaming: 1 refers to a dream while sleeping; 2 refers to a state of vagueness or confusion.” [Original text 夢寐: 1.謂睡夢; 2.比喻蒙昧狀態].
3. DREAMING (verb, old). Like dreaming. “Keep loving, keep remembering, keep dreaming. The old scenes will never be again” (Che Lan Vien).
"Mơ màng" is a compound word with a Chinese root element [historical meaning]: "mơ" is a Chinese word, originally the character 迷 meaning "mei" (迷), referring to a state of unconsciousness (like daydreaming); "mòng" is a Chinese word, originally the character 懵 meaning "darkness" or "ignorance," which the Chinese dictionary defines as "unconscious and ignorant; muddled" [original text 昏昧無知;糊塗]. Regarding the "ông-ong" relationship, we also see other cases such as "huấn mông" ↔ "huấn mòng".
Thus, "mong muoi" (primitive), "mong mi" (dreamy), and "mo mong" (dreamy) are compound words of Chinese origin (found in the Chinese language), or contain elements of Chinese origin. Because both or one of the two elements has lost its meaning or has an unclear meaning, these words are often considered reduplicated words.
Hoang Trinh Son (Contributor)
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/ve-mot-so-tu-lay-goc-han-mong-muoi-mong-mi-mo-mong-246373.htm
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