Meanings of 寞
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About 寞
Podcast: 寞
Podcast: 寞
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AI Study Notes for 寞
孤独 (gū dú, loneliness) vs 寂寞 (jì mò, loneliness) — use 寞 (mò) when emphasizing a quiet, still aspect of solitude.
Students often confuse 寞 with similar characters like 孤 (gū, lonely) or 独 (dú, alone), but 寞 specifically emphasizes the emotional weight of loneliness. It is more commonly used in literary contexts rather than everyday conversation, so be mindful of the register in which you use it.
While 寞 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with other emotions expressed in Chinese, like 忧 (yōu, worry) or 愁 (chóu, sorrow). Focus on understanding how emotional states are expressed through different characters and practice using them in context.
Learners often misuse 寞 by substituting it with 孤 or 独, which are not interchangeable. For instance, saying '我感觉孤' (wǒ gǎnjué gū) instead of '我感觉寞' (wǒ gǎnjué mò) misses the emotional nuance of loneliness that 寞 conveys.
Pronunciation of 寞
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Jason Explains 寞 to You
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Learning Lab
Knowing 寞 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Etymology of 寞
Phonosemantic compound. 宀 represents the meaning and 莫 represents the sound.
roof
Origin
寞 = 宀 + 莫. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 寞
Parts
Which of these is part of 寞?
How to say lonesome in Chinese
“lonesome” in Chinese is寞
The character 寞 (mò) conveys a sense of loneliness or stillness, often used to describe an emotional state of feeling isolated or solitary. It can also imply a quietness or silence that accompanies such feelings. Commonly used in literature and poetry, it evokes a deep emotional resonance related to solitude.
When to use 寞
Students often confuse 寞 with similar characters like 孤 (gū, lonely) or 独 (dú, alone), but 寞 specifically emphasizes the emotional weight of loneliness. It is more commonly used in literary contexts rather than everyday conversation, so be mindful of the register in which you use it.
寞 or something close to it
孤独 (gū dú, loneliness) vs 寂寞 (jì mò, loneliness) — use 寞 (mò) when emphasizing a quiet, still aspect of solitude.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 寞 by substituting it with 孤 or 独, which are not interchangeable. For instance, saying '我感觉孤' (wǒ gǎnjué gū) instead of '我感觉寞' (wǒ gǎnjué mò) misses the emotional nuance of loneliness that 寞 conveys.
Write 寞
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Practice writing 寞 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 寞
寞 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
内心痛苦、突感寂____的她去寻找琼－保罗。
Miserable, and unexpectedly lonely, she went in search of Jean-Paul.
Example Sentences for 寞 (4)
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Word Family of 寞
Words with 寞
What does 寂寞 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 寞
It is pronounced as 'mò', with a falling tone.
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