Meaning
The kanji 盛 (もり/さかり/さかん/せい) conveys a wide range of meanings related to prosperity, abundance, and being at a peak or full state. It describes something flourishing, thriving, vigorous, or grand. You'll often see this character when discussing periods of intense activity, large gatherings, or a plentiful supply of something.
Its visual composition offers valuable clues about its fundamental meaning. 盛 is a phono-semantic compound made up of two main parts: The radical 皿 (さら), meaning 'dish' or 'plate', is at the bottom. Above it is 成 (せい/なる), meaning 'to become', 'to complete', or 'to form'. When you combine these, you can visualize a dish that is becoming full, complete, or even overflowing. This image easily connects to concepts like abundance, prosperity, and being at a peak. A 'full' or 'overflowing' dish naturally suggests a surplus, a grand scale, or a thriving condition.
With 11 strokes, 盛 has a balanced complexity. While it's classified as N1 due to its nuanced use in advanced vocabulary, the kanji itself is introduced in Grade 6 of Japanese elementary school. This highlights its foundational importance even for younger learners.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
On'yomi, or Chinese-derived readings, for 盛 are mainly used in compound words. They often convey a more formal or abstract sense of prosperity or grandeur.
- セイ (SEI)
This is the most common On'yomi for 盛, frequently appearing in words related to flourishing conditions, grand scales, or the prime of something.
- 盛況 (seikyō) — booming business, prosperity, great success. This refers to a situation where business is thriving or an event is very well attended and successful.
- 盛大 (seidai) — grand, magnificent, splendid. Used to describe events or celebrations that are large-scale and impressive.
- 全盛 (zensei) — heyday, peak, zenith, prime. This term indicates the period of greatest prosperity, power, or popularity.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The Kun'yomi, or native Japanese readings, of 盛 are more directly associated with verbs and adjectives, often describing states of being or actions related to filling and flourishing.
- さか.る (saka.ru)
This reading is used for verbs and nouns that express a state of being at its peak, flourishing, or in season.
盛る (sakaru) — to prosper, to be at its height or peak, to be in season. For instance, used to describe flowers in full bloom or animals in heat.
盛り (sakari) — peak, prime, height, heyday. This noun refers to the climax or the best period of something, often used as a suffix like 花盛り (hanazakari), meaning 'full bloom'.
も.る (mo.ru)
This reading is specifically for the verb meaning 'to serve (food)', 'to heap up', or 'to dish up'. It directly links to the 'dish' radical and the concept of filling something.
盛る (moru) — to serve (food), to heap up, to dish up. For example, serving rice into a bowl.
大盛り (ōmori) — large serving, extra-large portion. A very common term in restaurants.
さか.ん (saka.n)
This is a nominal adjective (な-adjective) form, conveying the sense of being prosperous, thriving, popular, or active.
- 盛んな (sakanna) — prosperous, thriving, popular, active, vigorous. Describes a bustling town, a popular sport, or a strong economy.
- 盛んに (sakanni) — actively, vigorously, eagerly. The adverbial form, indicating an action performed with great energy or enthusiasm.
Common Words & Compounds
To master N1, it's essential to understand 盛 in various contexts. Below are common words and compounds, grouped by their theme:
Prosperity & Grandeur
- 盛況 (seikyō) — Booming business, prosperity. Refers to a highly successful and busy state, often for events or commercial activities.
- 盛大 (seidai) — Grand, magnificent, splendid. Describes the scale of an event, celebration, or ceremony, implying it is impressive and large.
- 盛隆 (seiryū) — Prosperity, flourishing, thriving. A more formal term emphasizing continuous growth and success.
- 全盛 (zensei) — Heyday, peak, zenith, prime. The period when something is at its absolute best or most powerful.
Quantity & Serving
- 大盛り (ōmori) — Large serving, extra portion. Commonly used when ordering food to request a bigger size.
- 山盛り (yamamori) — Heap, piled high, overflowing. Describes something piled up high like a mountain, often food.
- 盛り付け (moritsuke) — Garnishing, arrangement of food. The act of artfully arranging food on a plate.
State & Activity
- 真っ盛り (massakari) — Full bloom, height, prime. An emphasized form of 盛り, signifying the absolute peak or climax, such as a flower being in absolute full bloom.
- 盛んな (sakanna) — Prosperous, thriving, popular, active. As a な-adjective, it describes a lively atmosphere, a popular trend, or robust activity.
- 盛り上がる (moriagaru) — To swell, to get excited, to get lively, to become animated. Often used to describe an event or conversation becoming more energetic and enthusiastic.
- 盛り下がる (morisagaru) — To quiet down, to lose enthusiasm. The opposite of 盛り上がる, describing a decline in excitement or liveliness.
- 盛んに (sakanni) — Actively, vigorously, eagerly. The adverbial form used to describe the manner in which an action is performed.
Seasonal & Developmental
- 花盛り (hanazakari) — Full bloom (of flowers). The period when flowers are at their most abundant and beautiful.
- 食べ盛り (tabezakari) — Growing age (eating a lot), peak eating period. Refers to a period, often in adolescence, when one eats a large amount of food due to growth.
Example Sentences
公園の桜は今、満開の真っ盛りです。
Kōen no sakura wa ima, mankai no massakari desu.
The cherry blossoms in the park are now in full bloom, at their peak.
式典は盛大に開催され、多くの来賓が出席しました。
Shikiten wa seidai ni kaisai sare, ooku no raihin ga shusseki shimashita.
The ceremony was held on a grand scale, and many guests attended.
彼は今、仕事に対して盛に情熱を燃やしている。
Kare wa ima, shigoto ni taishite sakanni jōnetsu o moyashiteiru.
He is currently passionately enthusiastic about his work.
人気アイドルグループの登場に、会場は一気に盛り上がった。
Ninki aidoru gurūpu no tōjō ni, kaijō wa ikki ni moriagatta.
Upon the appearance of the popular idol group, the venue instantly became lively and excited.
このレストランは料理を大盛りにできるので、若者に人気がある。
Kono resutoran wa ryōri o ōmori ni dekiru node, wakamono ni ninki ga aru.
This restaurant is popular among young people because you can get large servings.
農業が盛なこの地域では、新鮮な野菜が手に入りやすい。
Nōgyō ga sakanna kono chiiki de wa, shinsen na yasai ga te ni hairiyasui.
In this region where agriculture thrives, fresh vegetables are easily available.
オリンピックは開催地の経済を一時的に盛にする効果がある。
Orinpikku wa kaisaichi no keizai o ichijiteki ni sakanni suru kōka ga aru.
The Olympics have the effect of temporarily boosting the economy of the host city.
育ち盛りの子供たちは、本当によく食べますね。
Sodachizakari no kodomotachi wa, hontō ni yoku tabemasu ne.
Children who are in their growing phase really eat a lot, don't they?
Memory Tip
To remember 盛, think of its components: the 'dish' (皿) at the bottom and 'to become' or 'to complete' (成) on top. Imagine a dish (皿) that has become (成) so full that it's overflowing with food, symbolizing abundance and prosperity. This mental image of a heaped, generous serving or a thriving state directly relates to all the key meanings of 盛: full, abundant, prosperous, and grand. Whether you're thinking of a heaping plate of food (盛る), a grand event (盛大), or a thriving economy (盛況), the idea of 'becoming full' and 'overflowing' perfectly encapsulates this versatile kanji.