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峁 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
mǎoyellow dirt mountg, 8 strokes, radical 山, Very Hard
mǎoround yellow dirt mount (in the Northwest of China)unknown, 8 strokes, radical 山, Very Hard
mǎo(mao3) T3
  1. 1yellow dirt mount
  2. 2round yellow dirt mount (in the Northwest of China)
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March 24, 2026

mǎo(mao3)

The character 峁 (mǎo) refers to a specific type of geographical feature, namely a mound or hill made of yellow earth, commonly found in the northwestern regions of China. It can signify a unique landscape characteristic of that area, often associated with arid or semi-arid environments.

Strokes8RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, specific geographical features often have historical or cultural significance. The distinctive yellow mounds in the Northwest are tied to the unique landscape and climate of that region, which has influenced local agriculture and settlement patterns.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'mount' (mǎo) made of yellow dirt, where 'y' stands for yellow. The character 峁 combines the mountain radical 山, symbolizing elevation, with a component that hints at the color yellow, helping you visualize a round yellow dirt mound rising from the landscape.

Meanings of 峁

mǎo(mao3)
1yellow dirt mount
2round yellow dirt mount (in the Northwest of China)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 峁

Simplified
8Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 峁

JasonAmy

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AI Study Notes for 峁

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'mount' (mǎo) made of yellow dirt, where 'y' stands for yellow. The character 峁 combines the mountain radical 山, symbolizing elevation, with a component that hints at the color yellow, helping you visualize a round yellow dirt mound rising from the landscape.

Usage Notes

This character is rarely used in everyday conversation and may appear more often in geographical contexts or literature. Be cautious with its pronunciation, ensuring the third tone is accurately spoken to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 峁 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it may enhance your knowledge of geographical terms in Chinese. Focus on the components of the character and their meanings, as it helps build a foundation for recognizing other location-based terms.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, specific geographical features often have historical or cultural significance. The distinctive yellow mounds in the Northwest are tied to the unique landscape and climate of that region, which has influenced local agriculture and settlement patterns.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 峁 with similar-sounding words, such as 毛 (máo, meaning hair). To avoid this, remember that 峁 specifically relates to geographical features, which can help differentiate it from other terms.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 峁

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Etymology of 峁

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

mountain

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 峁?

Decomposition of 峁

IDS Structure⿱山卯
Full Character
=
Shan1
top
mao3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 峁?

Write 峁

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

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Cultural Notes for 峁

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, specific geographical features often have historical or cultural significance. The distinctive yellow mounds in the Northwest are tied to the unique landscape and climate of that region, which has influenced local agriculture and settlement patterns.

Word Family of 峁

Words Containing This Character1
mǎoround yellow dirt mount (in the Northwest of China)
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 峁 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 峁

It means a yellow dirt mound or a round hill made of yellow earth.