萌
释义 DEFINITION
萌在中文网络语境中有两层含义：
- 原始含义：指植物发芽，如《说文解字》中'萌，草芽也'。
- 现代流行义：源自日语'萌え（もえ）'，形容对动漫/游戏中角色产生的强烈喜爱之情，现扩展为'可爱到让人心动'的特质，涵盖外形可爱、行为笨拙、性格单纯等特征。该用法占当前网络使用的95%以上。
例句：'这只猫耳朵一抖一抖的好萌！'
DEFINITION
Moe (pronounced 'moh-eh') has evolved into a cultural phenomenon:
- Core Meaning: Refers to that heart-squeezing feeling when encountering exaggerated cuteness, particularly towards anime characters with features like oversized eyes, clumsy mannerisms, or innocent personalities.
- Cultural Blend: Borrowed from Japanese otaku culture but localized in Chinese cyberspace to describe anything adorably charming, from pets doing silly things to babies with squishy cheeks.
Example: 'That TikTok of pandas rolling down hills is pure moe fuel!'
ETYMOLOGY
The journey of moe mirrors East Asian pop culture exchange. When Chinese anime forums first adopted the Japanese term 萌え around 2004, purists insisted on using it only for 2D characters. But everything changed when CCTV (China's state TV) accidentally fueled its spread:
In 2010, a news segment mocking 'ridiculous Japanese cartoon trends' used footage of K-On! characters being moe. This backfired spectacularly – millions searched 'what does meng mean?' skyrocketing its Baidu search index by 1800%.
Localized usage emerged:
- ‘Military moe’ – Cute PLA propaganda mascots
- ‘Panda moe’ – China’s diplomatic soft power tool
- ‘Grandpa moe’ – Elderly Douyin influencers doing aegyo
Today, calling something 'moe' implies affectionate approval, whether it's a Shiba Inu wearing hanfu or a viral video of construction workers dancing during lunch break.