蒙 méng to cover
to cover; to deceive; Mongolia; to suffer; to receive
How it came to be
Grass over a cover, with an animal under it. Something growing over something else until it is hidden, which is why the word means to cover, to fool and to be ignorant.
How it is used
- Multiple readings do different jobs: méng = cover/receive (启蒙 qǐméng to enlighten/initiate, 蒙受 méngshòu to suffer/sustain), mēng = to deceive or guess (蒙人 mēng rén to fool someone, 瞎蒙 blind-guess), Měng = Mongolia (蒙古 Ménggǔ).
- In 承蒙 (chéngméng) it is a polite 'to be granted', formal register: 承蒙关照 thank you for your kindness.