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March 24, 2026
摩mó(mo2)
The character 摩 (mó) primarily means 'to rub' or 'to grind,' often used in contexts involving friction or abrasion. It can refer to physical actions, such as rubbing a surface or polishing an object, as well as metaphorical uses related to effort or persistence in achieving something.
Strokes15Radical手Frequency#4020DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture,摩 (mó) is often associated with traditional practices, such as using a stone to grind herbs or spices, which reflects the importance of manual methods in Chinese cooking and herbal medicine.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person named Mo who is rubbing two stones together to create fire. The action of摩 (mó) captures the essence of rubbing and grinding, just like Mo’s persistent effort to create something useful from friction.
Meanings of 摩
mó(mo2)
1to rub
2to scour, to rub, to grind; friction
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 摩
摩Simplified
15Strokes
手Radical
其它专名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#4020Frequency Rank
Podcast: 摩
Podcast: 摩
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AI Study Notes for 摩
Quick Contrast
磨 (mó) vs 搓 (cuō) — use 摩 for actions involving rubbing or grinding surfaces, while 磨 emphasizes the grinding action often associated with food preparation or sharpening tools.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person named Mo who is rubbing two stones together to create fire. The action of摩 (mó) captures the essence of rubbing and grinding, just like Mo’s persistent effort to create something useful from friction.
Usage Notes
摩 (mó) is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is often associated with specific actions like polishing (摩擦 'friction') or grinding (磨粉 'to grind powder'). Be careful with the tones; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
Though摩 (mó) is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other verbs related to actions (like 磨 mǒ 'to grind' and 刮 guā 'to scrape'). Focus on practicing its use in compound words to expand your vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture,摩 (mó) is often associated with traditional practices, such as using a stone to grind herbs or spices, which reflects the importance of manual methods in Chinese cooking and herbal medicine.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse摩 (mó) with磨 (mó), which means 'to grind.' For instance, saying '我在摩咖啡' (Wǒ zài mó kāfēi) incorrectly suggests rubbing coffee instead of grinding it; the correct phrase is '我在磨咖啡' (Wǒ zài mó kāfēi).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 摩
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Grammar Patterns of 摩
摩 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
持枪歹徒坐上一辆由同伙驾驶的____托车逃逸。
The gunman escaped on a motorcycle being ridden by an accomplice.
Common Confusions with 摩
摩vs磨
mó
Same pronunciation but different meaning and usage.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to rub"?
or
Example Sentences for 摩 (10)
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1
持枪歹徒坐上一辆由同伙驾驶的摩托车逃逸。
chí qiāng dǎi tú zuò shàng yī liàng yóu tóng huǒ jià shǐ de mó tuō chē táo yì。
The gunman escaped on a motorcycle being ridden by an accomplice.
2
斯特凡诺骑一辆摩托车放羊。
sī tè fán nuò qí yī liàng mó tuō chē fàng yáng。
Stefano used a motor cycle to herd the sheep.
3
理查森在一次摩托车事故中失去了他的右脚。
lǐ chá sēn zài yī cì mó tuō chē shì gù zhōng shī qù le tā de yòu jiǎo。
Richardson severed his right foot in a motorbike accident.
4
为避免相撞而刹车时，他听到了轮胎与地面刺耳的摩擦声。
wéi bì miǎn xiāng zhuàng ér chà chē shí， ， tā tīng dào le lún tāi yǔ dì miàn cì ěr de mó cā。
He heard tires squeal as the car braked to avoid a collision.
5
摩泽尔河在宁静的乡间蜿蜒穿行约160英里。
mó zé ěr hé zài níng jìng de xiāng jiān wān yán chuān háng yuē160 160 yīng。
The Moselle winds through some 160 miles of tranquil countryside.
6
他把其他的摩托车手甩在身后。
tā bǎ qí tā de mó tuō chē shǒu shuǎi zài shēn hòu。
He left a host of other riders trailing in his slipstream.
7
过去有成群结队的年轻人骑着摩托车四处游荡。
guò qù yǒu chéng qún jié duì de nián qīng rén qí zháo mó tuō chē sì chǔ yóu dàng。
There were gangs of kids on motorbikes roaming around.
8
摩根派遣部队同时袭击了两个据点。
mó gēn pài qiǎn bù duì tóng shí xí jī le liǎng gè jù diǎn。
Dividing his command, Morgan assailed both strongholds at the same time.
9
两个小伙子正在松散的砾石路面上赛摩托车。
liǎng gè xiǎo huǒ zǐ zhèng zài sōng sàn de lì shí lù miàn shàng sài mó tuō chē。
Two young men were racing motorcycles on the loose gravel.
10
她有时会问我想不想做个背部按摩。
tā yǒu shí huì wèn wǒ xiǎng bù xiǎng zuò gè bèi bù àn mó。
She sometimes asks if I want a back rub.
Cultural Notes for 摩
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, the action of rubbing or 摩 can be seen in traditional practices, such as rubbing hands together for warmth during cold seasons. It symbolizes energy and vitality.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture,摩 (mó) is often associated with traditional practices, such as using a stone to grind herbs or spices, which reflects the importance of manual methods in Chinese cooking and herbal medicine.
Yes, 摩 (mó) appears in idioms such as 摩擦 (mócā), which means 'friction' or 'conflict.' This idiom can be used to describe situations where there is a disagreement or tension between parties.
Synonyms for 摩 (mó) include 擦 (cā), which means 'to wipe' or 'to rub,' and 磨 (mó), which means 'to grind' or 'to mill.' Each of these words can convey slightly different nuances depending on the context.
You can use 摩 (mó) in sentences to describe actions involving rubbing or grinding. For example, '我在摩擦这个表面' means 'I am rubbing this surface.' It's commonly used in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
摩 (mó) means 'to rub' or 'to grind' in Chinese. It can also refer to friction or the act of scouring a surface. This character is often used in contexts related to rubbing objects together or creating friction.
Common phrases include 摩擦 (mócā, 'friction') and 摩托车 (mótuōchē, 'motorcycle'), where摩 indicates the action related to rubbing or grinding.
摩 is pronounced as 'mó' with a rising tone; practice by saying 'mo' and letting your voice rise towards the end.
Yes,摩 can be used metaphorically to describe persistent effort in overcoming obstacles or challenges.
