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March 24, 2026
慕mù(mu4)
The character 慕 (mù) means to admire or to long for someone or something. It is often used to express a deep appreciation or yearning, especially towards ideals, figures of authority, or beautiful things. Common contexts include admiration for historical figures, art, or personal aspirations.
Strokes14Radical⺗Frequency#14228DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of admiration often ties into respect for teachers and elders, reflecting Confucian values. For instance, students may express 慕 towards their teachers, embodying a deep respect and aspiration to emulate their qualities.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person gazing up at a mountain (山) in awe, feeling both admiration and a desire to reach its peak. The character 慕 resembles a heart (心) next to a mountain, symbolizing the emotional longing one feels when admiring something majestic.
Meanings of 慕
mù(mu4)
1to admire
2to admire, to desire, to long for
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 慕
慕Simplified
14Strokes
⺗Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#14228Frequency Rank
Podcast: 慕
Podcast: 慕
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AI Study Notes for 慕
Quick Contrast
向 (xiàng, to face/toward) — use 慕 when expressing admiration or longing, while 向 indicates direction or orientation.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person gazing up at a mountain (山) in awe, feeling both admiration and a desire to reach its peak. The character 慕 resembles a heart (心) next to a mountain, symbolizing the emotional longing one feels when admiring something majestic.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 慕 with similar words like 爱 (ài) which means 'love.' While both express strong feelings, 慕 is more about admiration and longing rather than romantic love. It is generally used in a more formal context, especially in literary or poetic language.
HSK Study Tips
Although 慕 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects well with other HSK words expressing feelings and desires, such as 爱 (love) and 欣赏 (appreciate). Students should focus on using 慕 in sentences that express admiration or longing.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of admiration often ties into respect for teachers and elders, reflecting Confucian values. For instance, students may express 慕 towards their teachers, embodying a deep respect and aspiration to emulate their qualities.
Common Mistakes
Learners may incorrectly use 慕 in informal contexts where simpler terms like 喜欢 (xǐhuān) are more appropriate. For example, saying '我慕这个食物' (wǒ mù zhège shíwù) instead of '我喜欢这个食物' (wǒ xǐhuān zhège shíwù) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 慕
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Grammar Patterns of 慕
慕 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.
Friends and admirers crammed the chapel at the small Los Angeles cemetery where Monroe is buried.
10
英国妇女的乳腺癌患病率很低，着实令人羡慕。
yīng guó fù nǚ de rǔ xiàn ái huàn bìng shuài hěn dī， ， zháo shí líng rén xiàn。
Britain has an enviable record on breast screening for cancer.
Cultural Notes for 慕
💡Did you know?
The character '慕' contains the heart radical (心), indicating that admiration comes from the heart. This connection emphasizes the emotional aspect of admiration in Chinese culture.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of admiration often ties into respect for teachers and elders, reflecting Confucian values. For instance, students may express 慕 towards their teachers, embodying a deep respect and aspiration to emulate their qualities.
📜Proverb
In Chinese culture, there is a saying: '慕名而来', which means to come in pursuit of a reputation. This highlights the importance of reputation and admiration in social interactions.
Word Family of 慕
Words Containing This Character17
羡慕xiànmùto envy羨慕
慕mùto admire
慕尼黑München or Munich, capital of Bavaria, Germany
爱慕to adore愛慕
仰慕to admire
慕容two-character surname Murong
百慕大Bermuda
倾慕to adore傾慕
慕名to admire sb's reputation
慕名而来to come to a place on account of its reputation (idiom); attracted to visit a famous location慕名而來
思慕to cherish the memory of sb
慕斯mousse (loanword)
那达慕Nadam or Games, Mongolian national harvest festival in July-August那達慕
慕田峪Mutianyu, well-preserved section of the Great Wall 70km from Beijing
渴慕to thirst for
百慕大三角Bermuda Triangle
恋慕to be enamored of戀慕
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 羡慕 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 慕
Synonyms for 慕 (mù) include 崇拜 (chóng bài), which means to worship or idolize, and 爱慕 (ài mù), which means to love or cherish. Each of these words carries slightly different nuances, but all relate to feelings of admiration or longing.
While 慕 (mù) conveys a deeper sense of admiration or longing, 喜欢 (xǐ huān) simply means to like something or someone. 慕 implies a more profound emotional connection, often associated with respect or idealization, whereas 喜欢 is more straightforward and casual.
慕 (mù) means to admire or to long for something or someone. It expresses a sense of desire or yearning, often in the context of admiration for a person or an ideal. This character can convey feelings of respect and longing.
You can use 慕 (mù) in a sentence to express admiration or desire, such as '我慕你' (Wǒ mù nǐ), which means 'I admire you.' It can also be used with objects of admiration, like '我慕名而来' (Wǒ mù míng ér lái), meaning 'I came here out of admiration for your reputation.'
You can say '我慕名而来' (wǒ mùmíng ér lái), meaning 'I came here out of admiration for its reputation.'
It is more commonly found in literary or poetic contexts rather than casual conversation.
No, while it expresses longing, it is not used for romantic love, which is better expressed with 爱 (ài).
