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殁 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
殁mòdead; to diezg, 8 strokes, radical 歹, rank #84412, Very Hard
殁mòto endunknown, 8 strokes, radical 歹, rank #84412, Very Hard
mò(mo4) T4
  1. 1dead; to die
  2. 2to end
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March 24, 2026

殁(歿)mò(mo4)

The character 殁 (mò) means 'to die' or 'to end,' often used in a formal or literary context. It conveys a sense of finality and is not commonly used in everyday conversation, where simpler terms like 死 (sǐ) are preferred. This word often appears in historical texts or in discussions about mortality.

Strokes8Radical歹Frequency#84412DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, discussions about death are often approached with great respect and care. The character 殁 may be seen in classical literature that reflects on the themes of life and death, emphasizing the importance of honoring those who have passed.

Memory Tip

Imagine the character 殁 as a grave (the radical 死 meaning 'death') with the 'end' symbolized by the horizontal line at the top. You could visualize the top part (毛) as a hat that one wears when going to a funeral, reminding you that it relates to death and endings.

Meanings of 殁

mò(mo4)
1dead; to die
2to end
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 殁

殁Simplified
歿Traditional
8Strokes
歹Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 殁

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Podcast: 殁

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AI Study Notes for 殁

Quick Contrast

死 (sǐ) is a more common and straightforward term for 'to die' used in everyday conversation, while 殁 (mò) carries a more formal or literary connotation.

Usage Notes

While 殁 is a correct term for death, it's important to use it in appropriate contexts, such as literature or formal discussions. Learners may confuse it with 死 (sǐ), which is more common in everyday language. Additionally, note that the tone is crucial; mispronouncing it as 'sǐ' can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Though 殁 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, understanding this word can enhance your comprehension of literary texts. It connects well with other death-related terms like 死 (sǐ) and 亡 (wáng), so focus on differentiating these nuances in context.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 殁 with 死 and may use them interchangeably. For example, saying '他殁了' (Tā mò le) instead of '他死了' (Tā sǐ le) in casual conversation can sound overly formal or inappropriate.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 殁

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Etymology of 殁

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

death

Semantic (meaning)歹
+
Phonetic (sound)殳
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 殁

  1. 1The meaning half歹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half殳 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaydeath
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 殁? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 殁?

Decomposition of 殁

IDS Structure⿰歹殳
殁Full Character
=
歹dai3
left
殳Shu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 殁?

How to say dead; to die in Chinese

“dead; to die” in Chinese is殁mò

The character 殁 (mò) means 'to die' or 'to end,' often used in a formal or literary context. It conveys a sense of finality and is not commonly used in everyday conversation, where simpler terms like 死 (sǐ) are preferred. This word often appears in historical texts or in discussions about mortality.

When to use 殁

While 殁 is a correct term for death, it's important to use it in appropriate contexts, such as literature or formal discussions. Learners may confuse it with 死 (sǐ), which is more common in everyday language. Additionally, note that the tone is crucial; mispronouncing it as 'sǐ' can lead to misunderstandings.

殁 or something close to it

死 (sǐ) is a more common and straightforward term for 'to die' used in everyday conversation, while 殁 (mò) carries a more formal or literary connotation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 殁 with 死 and may use them interchangeably. For example, saying '他殁了' (Tā mò le) instead of '他死了' (Tā sǐ le) in casual conversation can sound overly formal or inappropriate.

Write 殁

殁

Practice writing 殁 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 殁

Words Containing This Character1
殁mòto end歿
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 殁 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 殁

No, 殁 is more formal and is typically found in literature or historical texts, while 死 is more commonly used.

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