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March 24, 2026
拇mǔ(mu3)
The character 拇 (mǔ) refers to the thumb or big toe in Mandarin. It is commonly used in both anatomical contexts and in expressions that involve the hand or foot, emphasizing the importance of these digits in daily activities and balance.
Strokes8Radical扌Frequency#29264DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the thumb (拇) is often associated with the heart and is considered crucial for Qi (energy) flow in the body. This highlights the significance of the thumb not just as a physical digit but also as part of holistic health.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant (the 'big' in 'big toe') thumb that is so large it can help you 'thumbs up' items from a distance. The character 拇 combines the radical for hand (扌) with the pronunciation 'mǔ', which sounds like 'moo', as in a cow giving a 'thumbs up' on its big toe!
Meanings of 拇
mǔ(mu3)
1thumb; big toe
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 拇
拇Simplified
8Strokes
扌Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 拇
Podcast: 拇
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AI Study Notes for 拇
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a giant (the 'big' in 'big toe') thumb that is so large it can help you 'thumbs up' items from a distance. The character 拇 combines the radical for hand (扌) with the pronunciation 'mǔ', which sounds like 'moo', as in a cow giving a 'thumbs up' on its big toe!
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 拇 with other similar characters like 指 (zhǐ), which means finger. The term is more commonly used in informal contexts, so ensure the right register when discussing anatomy or health. Remember to pronounce the third tone correctly, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
This character is not part of the HSK vocabulary list but connects to HSK Level 3 vocabulary related to body parts. Students should focus on its pronunciation and context, especially when learning other body-related terms.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the thumb (拇) is often associated with the heart and is considered crucial for Qi (energy) flow in the body. This highlights the significance of the thumb not just as a physical digit but also as part of holistic health.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 拇 with the character for finger (指), leading to incorrect phrases like '拇指是我的手指' which translates to 'The thumb is my finger.' The correct phrase is '拇指是我的拇指.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 拇
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Grammar Patterns of 拇
拇 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). 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
你不得不对她维护正义的勇气竖起大____指。
You have to give her top marks for moral guts.
Example Sentences for 拇 (10)
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1
你不得不对她维护正义的勇气竖起大拇指。
nǐ bù dé bù duì tā wéi hù zhèng yì de yǒng qì shù qǐ dà mǔ zhǐ。
The boy sucked his thumb and stared at Hebburn with huge, round eyes.
Cultural Notes for 拇
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese medicine, the thumb (拇) is often associated with the heart and is considered crucial for Qi (energy) flow in the body. This highlights the significance of the thumb not just as a physical digit but also as part of holistic health.
Word Family of 拇
Words Containing This Character5
拇指thumb
大拇指Tom Thumb (small person in folk tales)
拇mǔthumb
小拇指pinkie
二拇指index finger
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 拇指 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 拇
You can say '我的拇指受伤了' (My thumb is injured) to indicate discomfort.
It's more commonly used in informal contexts, but can appear in medical texts.
It can also refer to the big toe, so context is important.
