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March 24, 2026
茅máo(Mao2)
The character 茅 (máo) primarily refers to rushes or reeds, which are tall, slender plants often found in wetlands. It can also signify grass and is used as a surname, notably associated with prominent figures in Chinese history like Mao Zedong. In everyday contexts, it might appear in discussions about nature or traditional materials.
Strokes8Radical艹Frequency#20821DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, rushes are often used in thatching roofs and making mats, reflecting their practical use in rural life. They are also seen in poetry and art, symbolizing resilience and simplicity.
Memory Tip
Imagine a grassy meadow (草) where rushes (茅) sway gently in the wind. The character combines the grass radical (艹) at the top, representing plant life, with the character for 'hair' (毛), suggesting something that grows tall and thin like reeds. Think of a 'hairy meadow' to remember máo.
Meanings of 茅
máo(Mao2)
1rushes, reeds, grass; surname
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 茅
茅Simplified
8Strokes
艹Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 茅
Podcast: 茅
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AI Study Notes for 茅
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 茅 (máo) with other similar-sounding characters that have different meanings. This word is more commonly used in informal contexts when discussing plants, but it can appear in literary texts as well. Common collocations include 茅草 (máocǎo), meaning 'thatched grass'.
HSK Study Tips
While 茅 does not appear in the official HSK levels, it can be related to HSK Level 2 vocabulary like 草 (cǎo - grass). Focus on recognizing the character in context, especially in literary or agricultural discussions, to enhance vocabulary retention.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 茅 (máo) with 毛 (máo), which means 'hair' or 'fur'. For example, saying '我喜欢茅' (I like hair) instead of '我喜欢毛' is incorrect. Remember, 茅 relates to plants.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 茅
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Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 矛 represents the sound.
1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
2The sound half矛 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 茅? 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 茅?
Decomposition of 茅
IDS Structure⿱艹矛
茅Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
矛mao2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 茅?
How to say rushes, reeds, grass; surname in Chinese
“rushes, reeds, grass; surname” in Chinese is茅máo
The character 茅 (máo) primarily refers to rushes or reeds, which are tall, slender plants often found in wetlands. It can also signify grass and is used as a surname, notably associated with prominent figures in Chinese history like Mao Zedong. In everyday contexts, it might appear in discussions about nature or traditional materials.
When to use 茅
Be careful not to confuse 茅 (máo) with other similar-sounding characters that have different meanings. This word is more commonly used in informal contexts when discussing plants, but it can appear in literary texts as well. Common collocations include 茅草 (máocǎo), meaning 'thatched grass'.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 茅 (máo) with 毛 (máo), which means 'hair' or 'fur'. For example, saying '我喜欢茅' (I like hair) instead of '我喜欢毛' is incorrect. Remember, 茅 relates to plants.
Write 茅
茅
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Practice writing 茅 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 茅
茅 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.
