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.
用法
- 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.