The kanji 孟 generally conveys the meaning of "beginning," "eldest," or "first." It often implies the concept of leadership, precedence, or the head of a family or group. It can also refer to someone who is considered to be highly respected or venerated.

・On-yomi (音読み): もう (mou) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): None, as a standalone word. It's usually found in compound words.

⚫︎孟母三遷 (もうぼさんせん) Translation: Mencius's mother moved three times (to provide a good environment for her son). ⚫︎孟春 (もうしゅん) Translation: The first month of spring. ⚫︎孟 (氏) (もう (し)) Translation: (Surname) Meng, a Chinese surname, often associated with the philosopher Mencius.

The kanji 孟 is a pictophonetic character. The upper part is 皿, which is a stylized depiction of a bowl. The lower part is 子 (child). The original meaning of the character seems to have been related to the first-born son in a family, or the eldest child, who would receive the inheritance and lead the family. The bowl could symbolize the vessel of responsibility or the resources under the eldest's charge. Over time, the meaning expanded to encompass the idea of "beginning" or "first" in a general sense.