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拇 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
拇
mǔ
thumb; big toe
n, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #29264, Very Hard
mǔ(mu3)mu T3
1thumb; big toe
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March 24, 2026
拇mǔ(mu3)
The character 拇 (mǔ) refers to the thumb or big toe in Mandarin. It is commonly used in both anatomical contexts and in expressions that involve the hand or foot, emphasizing the importance of these digits in daily activities and balance.
Strokes8Radical扌Frequency#29264DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the thumb (拇) is often associated with the heart and is considered crucial for Qi (energy) flow in the body. This highlights the significance of the thumb not just as a physical digit but also as part of holistic health.
Memory tip
Imagine a giant (the 'big' in 'big toe') thumb that is so large it can help you 'thumbs up' items from a distance. The character 拇 combines the radical for hand (扌) with the pronunciation 'mǔ', which sounds like 'moo', as in a cow giving a 'thumbs up' on its big toe!
Meanings of 拇
mǔ(mu3)
1thumb; big toe
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 拇 means.
About 拇
拇Simplified
8Strokes
扌Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 拇
Podcast: 拇
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AI study notes for 拇
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 拇 with other similar characters like 指 (zhǐ), which means finger. The term is more commonly used in informal contexts, so ensure the right register when discussing anatomy or health. Remember to pronounce the third tone correctly, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
This character is not part of the HSK vocabulary list but connects to HSK Level 3 vocabulary related to body parts. Students should focus on its pronunciation and context, especially when learning other body-related terms.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 拇 with the character for finger (指), leading to incorrect phrases like '拇指是我的手指' which translates to 'The thumb is my finger.' The correct phrase is '拇指是我的拇指.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 拇
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Learning Lab
Knowing 拇 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.
拇 = 扌 + 母. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 拇
IDS Structure⿰扌母
拇Full character
=
扌shou3
left
母mu3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 拇?
How to say thumb; big toe in Chinese
“thumb; big toe” in Chinese is拇mǔ
The character 拇 (mǔ) refers to the thumb or big toe in Mandarin. It is commonly used in both anatomical contexts and in expressions that involve the hand or foot, emphasizing the importance of these digits in daily activities and balance.
When to use 拇
Be careful not to confuse 拇 with other similar characters like 指 (zhǐ), which means finger. The term is more commonly used in informal contexts, so ensure the right register when discussing anatomy or health. Remember to pronounce the third tone correctly, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 拇 with the character for finger (指), leading to incorrect phrases like '拇指是我的手指' which translates to 'The thumb is my finger.' The correct phrase is '拇指是我的拇指.'
Write 拇
拇
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Practice writing 拇 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 拇
拇 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
你不得不对她维护正义的勇气竖起大____指。
You have to give her top marks for moral guts.
Example sentences for 拇 (10)
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1
你不得不对她维护正义的勇气竖起大拇指。
nǐ bùdébù duì tā wéihù zhèngyì de yǒngqì shù qǐ dà mǔzhǐ。
