Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
穆 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
majestic; reverent, solemnnz, 16 strokes, radical 禾, rank #13668, Hard
surname Muunknown, 16 strokes, radical 禾, rank #13668, Hard
calmunknown, 16 strokes, radical 禾, rank #13668, Hard
burial position in an ancestral tomb (old)unknown, 16 strokes, radical 禾, rank #13668, Hard
old variant of 默unknown, 16 strokes, radical 禾, rank #13668, Hard
(Mu4) T4
  1. 1majestic; reverent, solemn
  2. 2calm
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(Mu4)

The character 穆 (mù) conveys a sense of majesty and solemnity, often associated with reverence or calmness. It can refer to a burial position in ancestral tombs, highlighting its connection to respect for ancestors in Chinese culture, and it is also used as a surname.

Strokes16RadicalFrequency#13668DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

穆 is often linked to ancestral worship in Chinese culture, where reverence for forebears is an essential practice. It underscores the importance of maintaining solemnity during rituals and ceremonies honoring ancestors.

Memory Tip

Imagine a majestic mountain (山) shrouded in calm mist (雾), representing the serene and dignified aura of 穆. The character's structure combines elements that evoke a sense of grandeur and tranquility, helping you remember its meaning.

Meanings of 穆

(Mu4)
1majestic; reverent, solemn
2calm
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 穆

Simplified
16Strokes
Radical
其它专名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 穆

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 穆

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a majestic mountain (山) shrouded in calm mist (雾), representing the serene and dignified aura of 穆. The character's structure combines elements that evoke a sense of grandeur and tranquility, helping you remember its meaning.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 穆 with similar-sounding characters like 默 (mò), which means silent. 穆 is typically used in more formal contexts, especially related to respect or tradition, so be mindful of your register when using it.

HSK Study Tips

Although 穆 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with words about reverence and respect, which may appear in advanced levels. Students should focus on its usage in cultural contexts, particularly in discussions about ancestry and traditions.

Cultural Note

穆 is often linked to ancestral worship in Chinese culture, where reverence for forebears is an essential practice. It underscores the importance of maintaining solemnity during rituals and ceremonies honoring ancestors.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 穆 in informal contexts where a more casual term would suffice. For example, using 穆 in everyday conversation about family can sound overly formal; instead, use simpler terms related to family or ancestors.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 穆

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 穆

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

grain

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 穆?

Decomposition of 穆

IDS Structure⿰禾㣎
Full Character
=
he2
left
mu4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 穆?

Write 穆

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 穆

穆 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 5 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

“国有企业经营不善将是常态,”约翰·____尔告诉读者。

"State-owned industries will always perform poorly," John Moore informed readers.

Example Sentences for 穆 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
“国有企业经营不善将是常态,”约翰·穆尔告诉读者。

“ “ guó yǒu qǐ yè jīng yíng bù shàn jiāng shì cháng,” tài ,”· yuē hàn · mù ěr gào。

"State-owned industries will always perform poorly," John Moore informed readers.
2
伟大如穆恩者,也有状态起伏的时候。

wěi dà rú mù ēn zhě, , yě yǒu zhuàng tài qǐ fú de shí。

Moon, as great as he is, has had some inconsistent days.
3
一幅罗里·奥穆尔的画像挂在基尔丹根的餐厅里。

yī fú luó lǐ· · ào mù ěr de huà xiàng guà zài jī ěr dān gēn de cān tīng。

A picture of Rory O'Moore hangs in the dining room at Kildangan.
4
她现在正在续写达夫妮·杜穆里埃的小说《蝴蝶梦》。

tā xiàn zài zhèng zài xù xiě dá fū nī· · dù mù lǐ āi de xiǎo《 shuō 《 hú》。

She is currently writing a sequel to Daphne du Maurier's "Rebecca"
5
凯蒂·穆尔获得了最佳女侧骑手奖。

kǎi dì· · mù ěr huò dé le zuì jiā nǚ cè qí shǒu。

Katie Moore took the ladies' side-saddle award.
6
不知怎么的,我老想把这条狗唤作穆夫提。

bù zhī zěn mó de, , wǒ lǎo xiǎng bǎ zhè tiáo gǒu huàn zuò mù fū。

I always wanted to call the dog Mufty for some reason.
7
英国的马蒂娜·勒穆瓦昂南通过四局的比赛击败了同胞苏珊娜·霍纳。

yīng guó de mǎ dì nà· · lè mù wǎ áng nán tōng guò sì jú de bǐ sài jī bài le tóng bāo sū shān· nà ·。

Britain's Martine Le Moignan defeated her countrywoman Suzanne Horner in four games.
8
穆拉特毫不退缩地直视着执行枪决的行刑队员们的眼睛。

mù lā tè háo bù tuì suō dì zhí shì zháo zhí háng qiāng jué de háng xíng duì yuán mén de yǎn jīng。

Murat had looked into the eyes of the firing squad without flinching.
9
在穆利内洛转向南,去往皮亚扎—阿尔梅里纳。

zài mù lì nèi luò zhuǎn xiàng nán, , qù wǎng pí yà— zā — ā ěr méi。

Turn south at Mulinello to reach Piazza Armerina.
10
11月27日: 和右投手穆帅签下2年延长合约.

11 1127 yuè: 27 rì : hé yòu tóu shǒu mù2 shuài qiān xià 2 nián.

Nov. 27: Signed RHP Mike Mussina to two - year extension.

Cultural Notes for 穆

🏮Cultural insight

穆 is often linked to ancestral worship in Chinese culture, where reverence for forebears is an essential practice. It underscores the importance of maintaining solemnity during rituals and ceremonies honoring ancestors.

Word Family of 穆

Words Containing This Character11
穆斯林mùsīlínMuslim
solemn
穆罕默德Mohammed (c. 570-632), central figure of Islam and prophet of God
珠穆朗玛峰Mt Everest珠穆朗瑪峰
穆沙拉夫Pervez Musharraf (1943-), Pakistani general and politician, president 2001-2008
肃穆serene肅穆
穆萨维Moussavi, Mir Hussein (1941-), candidate in Iran's disputed 2009 elections穆薩維
穆迪Moody's, company specializing in financial market ratings
穆巴拉克Hosni Mubarak (1928-), former Egyptian President and military commander
穆桂英Mu Guiying, female warrior and heroine of the Yang Saga 楊家將|杨家将
喀土穆Khartoum, capital of Sudan
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 穆斯林 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 穆

In modern usage, 穆 often appears as a surname, but it retains its meanings related to majesty and solemnity, particularly in literary and cultural references.