慢

It combines attitude (inner arrogance) and tempo (slowness or delay), both seen as forms of insufficient mindfulness or seriousness.

A phono-semantic compound:

心 — semantic component, indicating mental attitude or emotional state

曼 (만) — phonetic component, conveying the sound man and the idea of “extended / drawn out”

Core idea “a heart that is stretched out, lax, or lacking restraint.”

From this developed:

- arrogance (an overextended sense of self)

- slowness or negligence (a relaxed or careless mental state)

傲慢 (오만) — arrogance; haughtiness

怠慢 (태만) — negligence; dereliction of duty

慢性 (만성) — chronic; slow-developing (e.g. 慢性病)

輕慢 (경만) — contempt; treating lightly

In moral or interpersonal contexts, 慢 usually means arrogance or disrespect.

In medical or descriptive contexts, it often means slow or chronic (e.g. 慢性).

In Buddhist doctrine, 慢 is one of the defilements (煩惱), referring to pride and arrogance, often grouped with:

我慢 (ego-pride)

憍慢 (conceit)

In classical thought, arrogance and sluggishness were often seen as two sides of the same moral weakness.

「心慢則行怠。」 — Moral aphorism

“When the heart grows arrogant, conduct becomes negligent.”

「去慢修恭。」 — Buddhist admonition

“Cast off arrogance and cultivate reverence.”