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慕 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
慕
mù
to admire
nr, 14 strokes, radical ⺗, rank #14228, Very Hard
慕
mù
to admire, to desire, to long for
nr, 14 strokes, radical ⺗, rank #14228, Very Hard
mù(mu4)mu T4
1to admire
2to admire, to desire, to long for
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March 24, 2026
慕mù(mu4)
The character 慕 (mù) means to admire or to long for someone or something. It is often used to express a deep appreciation or yearning, especially towards ideals, figures of authority, or beautiful things. Common contexts include admiration for historical figures, art, or personal aspirations.
Strokes14Radical⺗Frequency#14228DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of admiration often ties into respect for teachers and elders, reflecting Confucian values. For instance, students may express 慕 towards their teachers, embodying a deep respect and aspiration to emulate their qualities.
Memory tip
Imagine a person gazing up at a mountain (山) in awe, feeling both admiration and a desire to reach its peak. The character 慕 resembles a heart (心) next to a mountain, symbolizing the emotional longing one feels when admiring something majestic.
Meanings of 慕
mù(mu4)
1to admire
2to admire, to desire, to long for
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 慕
慕Simplified
14Strokes
⺗Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#14228Frequency Rank
Podcast: 慕
Podcast: 慕
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AI study notes for 慕
Quick Contrast
向 (xiàng, to face/toward) — use 慕 when expressing admiration or longing, while 向 indicates direction or orientation.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 慕 with similar words like 爱 (ài) which means 'love.' While both express strong feelings, 慕 is more about admiration and longing rather than romantic love. It is generally used in a more formal context, especially in literary or poetic language.
HSK Study Tips
Although 慕 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects well with other HSK words expressing feelings and desires, such as 爱 (love) and 欣赏 (appreciate). Students should focus on using 慕 in sentences that express admiration or longing.
Common Mistakes
Learners may incorrectly use 慕 in informal contexts where simpler terms like 喜欢 (xǐhuān) are more appropriate. For example, saying '我慕这个食物' (wǒ mù zhège shíwù) instead of '我喜欢这个食物' (wǒ xǐhuān zhège shíwù) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 慕
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慕 = ⺗ + 莫. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 慕
IDS Structure⿱莫⺗
慕Full character
=
莫Mo4
top
⺗xin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 慕?
How to say to admire in Chinese
“to admire” in Chinese is慕mù
The character 慕 (mù) means to admire or to long for someone or something. It is often used to express a deep appreciation or yearning, especially towards ideals, figures of authority, or beautiful things. Common contexts include admiration for historical figures, art, or personal aspirations.
When to use 慕
Learners often confuse 慕 with similar words like 爱 (ài) which means 'love.' While both express strong feelings, 慕 is more about admiration and longing rather than romantic love. It is generally used in a more formal context, especially in literary or poetic language.
慕 or something close to it
向 (xiàng, to face/toward) — use 慕 when expressing admiration or longing, while 向 indicates direction or orientation.
What learners get wrong
Learners may incorrectly use 慕 in informal contexts where simpler terms like 喜欢 (xǐhuān) are more appropriate. For example, saying '我慕这个食物' (wǒ mù zhège shíwù) instead of '我喜欢这个食物' (wǒ xǐhuān zhège shíwù) is incorrect.
Write 慕
慕
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Grammar patterns of 慕
慕 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 2 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.
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Cultural Notes for 慕
💡Did you know?
The character '慕' contains the heart radical (心), indicating that admiration comes from the heart. This connection emphasizes the emotional aspect of admiration in Chinese culture.
📜Proverb
In Chinese culture, there is a saying: '慕名而来', which means to come in pursuit of a reputation. This highlights the importance of reputation and admiration in social interactions.
Word Family of 慕
Words containing this character17
羡慕xiànmùto envy羨慕
慕mùto admire
慕尼黑mùníhēiMünchen or Munich, capital of Bavaria, Germany
爱慕àimùto adore愛慕
仰慕yǎngmùto admire
慕容mùróngtwo-character surname Murong
百慕大bǎimùdàBermuda
倾慕qīngmùto adore傾慕
慕名mùmíngto admire sb's reputation
慕名而来mùmíng’érláito come to a place on account of its reputation (idiom); attracted to visit a famous location慕名而來
思慕sīmùto cherish the memory of sb
慕斯mùsīmousse (loanword)
那达慕nàdámùNadam or Games, Mongolian national harvest festival in July-August那達慕
慕田峪mùtiányùMutianyu, well-preserved section of the Great Wall 70km from Beijing
渴慕kěmùto thirst for
百慕大三角bǎimùdàsānjiǎoBermuda Triangle
恋慕liànmùto be enamored of戀慕
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 慕
What does 羡慕 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 慕
Synonyms for 慕 (mù) include 崇拜 (chóng bài), which means to worship or idolize, and 爱慕 (ài mù), which means to love or cherish. Each of these words carries slightly different nuances, but all relate to feelings of admiration or longing.
While 慕 (mù) conveys a deeper sense of admiration or longing, 喜欢 (xǐ huān) simply means to like something or someone. 慕 implies a more profound emotional connection, often associated with respect or idealization, whereas 喜欢 is more straightforward and casual.
慕 (mù) means to admire or to long for something or someone. It expresses a sense of desire or yearning, often in the context of admiration for a person or an ideal. This character can convey feelings of respect and longing.
You can use 慕 (mù) in a sentence to express admiration or desire, such as '我慕你' (Wǒ mù nǐ), which means 'I admire you.' It can also be used with objects of admiration, like '我慕名而来' (Wǒ mù míng ér lái), meaning 'I came here out of admiration for your reputation.'
You can say '我慕名而来' (wǒ mùmíng ér lái), meaning 'I came here out of admiration for its reputation.'
It is more commonly found in literary or poetic contexts rather than casual conversation.
No, while it expresses longing, it is not used for romantic love, which is better expressed with 爱 (ài).
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