unknown, 8 strokes, radical 艹, rank #19652, Very Hard
mào(mao4) T4
1luxuriant
2thick, lush, dense; talented
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March 24, 2026
茂mào(mao4)
The character 茂 (mào) primarily signifies something that is lush, dense, or abundant, often used to describe flourishing vegetation. It can also refer to someone who is talented or gifted in a particular area. Common contexts include describing rich foliage in nature or a person's impressive skills.
Strokes8Radical艹Frequency#19652DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, lush greenery is often associated with prosperity and good fortune. The character 茂 is sometimes used in poetic contexts to evoke beauty in nature, reflecting the importance of harmony with the environment.
Memory Tip
Imagine a thick forest (茂) where the trees grow together densely, resembling the shape of the character itself. The top part (the radical for grass) suggests that it relates to plants, while the bottom can remind you of 'talent' sprouting from the ground like strong roots.
Meanings of 茂
mào(mao4)
1luxuriant
2thick, lush, dense; talented
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 茂
茂Simplified
8Strokes
艹Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#19652Frequency Rank
Podcast: 茂
Podcast: 茂
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AI Study Notes for 茂
Quick Contrast
繁 (fán) vs 茂 (mào): use 茂 when specifically emphasizing lushness or abundance in vegetation, while 繁 focuses more on the idea of being numerous or intricate, often in a broader context.
Usage Notes
When using 茂, it often describes plants or talent in a positive context. A common mistake is using it in a negative context; ensure you pair it with positive nouns. It is more formal and may not be used in casual conversations.
HSK Study Tips
Though 茂 is not in a specific HSK level, students should connect it with other words describing nature or talent. Focus on recognizing this character in context and associating it with vocabulary related to growth or flourishing.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 茂 with similar characters like 茹 (rú). For example, saying '他很茹' (He is very ru) instead of '他很茂' (He is very talented) is incorrect; use 茂 when referring to talent.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 茂
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Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 戊 represents the sound.
1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
2The sound half戊 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaygrass
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 茂? 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 茂?
Decomposition of 茂
IDS Structure⿱艹戊
茂Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
戊wu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 茂?
How to say luxuriant in Chinese
“luxuriant” in Chinese is茂mào
The character 茂 (mào) primarily signifies something that is lush, dense, or abundant, often used to describe flourishing vegetation. It can also refer to someone who is talented or gifted in a particular area. Common contexts include describing rich foliage in nature or a person's impressive skills.
When to use 茂
When using 茂, it often describes plants or talent in a positive context. A common mistake is using it in a negative context; ensure you pair it with positive nouns. It is more formal and may not be used in casual conversations.
茂 or something close to it
繁 (fán) vs 茂 (mào): use 茂 when specifically emphasizing lushness or abundance in vegetation, while 繁 focuses more on the idea of being numerous or intricate, often in a broader context.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 茂 with similar characters like 茹 (rú). For example, saying '他很茹' (He is very ru) instead of '他很茂' (He is very talented) is incorrect; use 茂 when referring to talent.
Write 茂
茂
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Practice writing 茂 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 茂
茂 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 3 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
他们花了36个小时穿过____密的莫桑比克丛林。
They walked through the dense Mozambican bush for thirty six hours.
Example Sentences for 茂 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他们花了36个小时穿过茂密的莫桑比克丛林。
tā mén huā le36 36 gè xiǎo shí chuān guò mào mì de mò sāng bǐ kè cóng。
They walked through the dense Mozambican bush for thirty six hours.
