Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
馍 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
breadn, 13 strokes, radical 饣, rank #29266, Very Hard
small loaf of steamed breadunknown, 13 strokes, radical 饣, rank #29266, Very Hard
(mo2) T2
  1. 1bread
  2. 2small loaf of steamed bread
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(饃)(mo2)

The character '馍' (mó) refers to a type of bread, specifically a small loaf of steamed bread commonly found in northern China. It is often used in various meals and can be served with different fillings or as a side dish. It embodies a staple of Chinese cuisine, particularly in regions where wheat is a primary crop.

Strokes13RadicalFrequency#29266DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

'馍' is an integral part of northern Chinese cuisine and is often associated with traditional street food. It reflects the agricultural practices of the region, where wheat-based foods are prevalent compared to rice in southern areas.

Memory Tip

Imagine a fluffy loaf of bread 'mó' that looks like a cloud. The character '馍' has a radical related to food (饣) and is shaped like a bun sitting on a plate, reminding you of its meaning as a type of bread.

Meanings of 馍

(mo2)
1bread
2small loaf of steamed bread
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 馍

Simplified
Traditional
13Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 馍

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 馍

Quick Contrast

馒头 (mántou) vs 馍 (mó) — use 馍 when specifically referring to a type of flatbread or steamed bread, while 馒头 refers to a more general steamed bun.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a fluffy loaf of bread 'mó' that looks like a cloud. The character '馍' has a radical related to food (饣) and is shaped like a bun sitting on a plate, reminding you of its meaning as a type of bread.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse '馍' with similar terms like '面包' (miànbāo), which means Western-style bread. '馍' is primarily used in informal contexts when discussing traditional Chinese food. Common collocations include '肉夹馍' (ròu jiā mó), which is a popular meat sandwich.

HSK Study Tips

Though '馍' is not in the HSK vocabulary list, it can be connected to food-related vocabulary at this level. Focus on learning how it fits into phrases and menus, as it often appears in everyday conversation around meals.

Cultural Note

'馍' is an integral part of northern Chinese cuisine and is often associated with traditional street food. It reflects the agricultural practices of the region, where wheat-based foods are prevalent compared to rice in southern areas.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce '馍' as 'mò' with a falling tone instead of the correct rising tone 'mó'. Additionally, some may confuse it with '饼' (bǐng), which refers to a flatbread, leading to errors in context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 馍

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 馍

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

Phonosemantic compound. 饣 represents the meaning and 莫 represents the sound. Simplified form of 饃.

Memory Hint

food

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 馍?

Decomposition of 馍

IDS Structure⿰饣莫
Full Character
=
shi2
left
Mo4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 馍?

Write 馍

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 馍

馍 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 1

Complete the Sentence

丰园公司的____干片品种丰富, 分甜 、 咸两大类.

Richland Garden steamed dry film's rich variety, sub - sweet, salty two broad categories.

Example Sentences for 馍 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
丰园公司的馍干片品种丰富, 分甜 、 咸两大类.

fēng yuán gōng sī de mó gān piàn pǐn zhǒng fēng fù, , fēn、 tián 、 xián liǎng.

Richland Garden steamed dry film's rich variety, sub - sweet, salty two broad categories.

Cultural Notes for 馍

🏮Cultural insight

'馍' is an integral part of northern Chinese cuisine and is often associated with traditional street food. It reflects the agricultural practices of the region, where wheat-based foods are prevalent compared to rice in southern areas.

Word Family of 馍

Words Containing This Character2
small loaf of steamed bread
馍馍steamed bun饃饃
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 馍 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 馍

'馍' refers specifically to a type of Chinese steamed bread, while '面包' is the general term for bread, especially Western-style.