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March 24, 2026
墓mù(mu4)
The character 墓 (mù) refers to a grave or tomb, a place where the deceased are buried. It is commonly used in contexts related to funerals, memorials, and ancestry, reflecting the importance of honoring one's ancestors in Chinese culture.
Strokes13Radical土Frequency#7350DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, reverence for ancestors is deeply rooted, and visiting graves during Qingming Festival is a common practice. This character symbolizes the respect given to those who have passed away, reflecting a significant cultural value.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large stone (石) structure (土) that marks the resting place of someone who has passed away. The shape of 墓 can remind you of a mound of earth covering a grave, and the pronunciation 'mù' sounds like 'moo,' which could evoke the solemn sound of a cow mourning in a field near a graveyard.
Meanings of 墓
mù(mu4)
1grave
2tomb
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 墓
墓Simplified
13Strokes
土Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#7350Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 墓
Podcast: 墓
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AI Study Notes for 墓
Quick Contrast
墓 (grave) vs 坟 (burial mound) — use 墓 for formal contexts or structures, 坟 for simpler or less formal burial sites.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a large stone (石) structure (土) that marks the resting place of someone who has passed away. The shape of 墓 can remind you of a mound of earth covering a grave, and the pronunciation 'mù' sounds like 'moo,' which could evoke the solemn sound of a cow mourning in a field near a graveyard.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 墓 with similar characters like 增 (zēng), which means to increase. While 墓 is used in formal contexts, it can also appear in discussions about heritage and family, so ensure your tone matches the seriousness of the topic.
HSK Study Tips
Though 墓 is not included in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it is relevant for learners interested in cultural topics or discussions about death and ancestry. Focus on understanding its usage in phrases related to funerals or family history.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, reverence for ancestors is deeply rooted, and visiting graves during Qingming Festival is a common practice. This character symbolizes the respect given to those who have passed away, reflecting a significant cultural value.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 墓 with 增 (zēng), leading them to mistakenly use 墓 when they intend to talk about increasing something. Always remember that 墓 specifically refers to graves and tombs.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 墓
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Grammar Patterns of 墓
墓 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
不大的教堂____地周边围着一圈生锈的熟铁栅栏。
The small churchyard was surrounded by a rusted wrought-iron fence.
Example Sentences for 墓 (10)
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1
不大的教堂墓地周边围着一圈生锈的熟铁栅栏。
bù dà de jiào táng mù dì zhōu biān wéi zháo yī quān shēng xiù de shú tiě zhà lán。
The small churchyard was surrounded by a rusted wrought-iron fence.
2
两名男子站在新挖的坟墓边。
liǎng míng nán zǐ zhàn zài xīn wā de fén mù biān。
Two men were standing by the freshly dug grave.
3
他死的时候一文不名，葬在一处无名墓穴中。
tā sǐ de shí hòu yī wén bù míng， ， zàng zài yī chǔ wú míng mù xué。
He did die a pauper and is buried in an unmarked grave.
4
他看见墓碑上有一些黑字写的东西。
tā kàn jiàn mù bēi shàng yǒu yī xiē hēi zì xiě de dōng xī。
He saw something written in black on the gravestones.
The parson, heading the procession, had just turned right towards the churchyard.
6
我拂去了墓碑顶上的雨水。
wǒ fú qù le mù bēi dǐng shàng de yǔ shuǐ。
I swept rainwater off the flat top of a gravestone.
7
他指示马蒂尔达的遗体必须葬在家族墓穴里。
tā zhǐ shì mǎ dì ěr dá de yí tǐ bì xū zàng zài jiā zú mù xué lǐ。
He ordered that Matilda's body should be buried in the family vault.
8
众所周知，雷恩的墓志铭中写道，大教堂本身就是他的纪念碑。
zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī， ， léi ēn de mù zhì míng zhōng xiě， dào ， dà jiào táng běn shēn jiù shì tā de jì。
As Wren's epitaph famously declares, the cathedral itself is his monument.
9
她掰开玫瑰花，将花瓣撒在坟墓上。
tā bāi kāi méi guī huā， ， jiāng huā bàn sā zài fén mù。
She tore the rose apart and scattered the petals over the grave.
10
这位老贵族埋在家族的墓地里.
zhè wèi lǎo guì zú mái zài jiā zú de mù dì lǐ.
The old patrician was buried in the family vault.
Cultural Notes for 墓
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, reverence for ancestors is deeply rooted, and visiting graves during Qingming Festival is a common practice. This character symbolizes the respect given to those who have passed away, reflecting a significant cultural value.
Word Family of 墓
Words Containing This Character20
墓mùgrave
坟墓fénmùgrave墳墓
墓地mùdìcemetery
墓碑mùbēigravestone
公墓gōngmùpublic cemetery
古墓old tomb (archaeology)
盗墓to rob a tomb盜墓
墓穴tomb
墓葬tomb
陵墓tomb
墓园cemetery墓園
扫墓sǎomùthe Qingming festival掃墓
自掘坟墓to dig one's own grave自掘墳墓
墓志铭epitaph墓誌銘
墓主occupant of tomb
墓道tomb passage
墓志inscribed stone tablet placed in the tomb墓誌
墓场graveyard墓場
墓葬区burial area墓葬區
祠墓memorial hall and tomb
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 墓 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 墓
You can say '他去墓地拜祭他的祖先' (Tā qù mùdì bàijì tā de zǔxiān), which means 'He went to the graveyard to pay respects to his ancestors.'
While not common in casual conversation, 墓 is relevant in discussions about family heritage or during memorial occasions.
Common phrases include 墓地 (graveyard) and 墓碑 (tombstone).
