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沐 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
沐
mù
to bathe
HSK 7, nz, 7 strokes, radical 氵, rank #31924, Very Hard
沐
mù
to cleanse
HSK 7, nz, 7 strokes, radical 氵, rank #31924, Very Hard
沐
mù
to receive
HSK 7, nz, 7 strokes, radical 氵, rank #31924, Very Hard
沐
mù
to be given
HSK 7, nz, 7 strokes, radical 氵, rank #31924, Very Hard
沐
mù
to bathe, to cleanse, to shampoo, to wash
HSK 7, nz, 7 strokes, radical 氵, rank #31924, Very Hard
mù(mu4)mu T4
1to bathe
2to cleanse
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March 24, 2026
沐mù(mu4)
The character 沐 (mù) primarily means 'to bathe' or 'to cleanse.' It is often used in contexts relating to personal hygiene or rituals of purification. Additionally, it can imply receiving something, often in a more abstract sense, such as blessings or education.
Strokes7Radical氵Frequency#31924DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, bathing is not just a physical act but also a spiritual one, often associated with cleansing one's spirit and preparing for important events or festivals, like the Lunar New Year.
Memory tip
Imagine a serene scene where a person is bathing in a calm river, the water gently washing away their worries. The character 沐 resembles a person standing under a flowing waterfall, cleansing themselves, while the 'water' part (氵) indicates its connection to water.
Meanings of 沐
mù(mu4)
1to bathe
2to cleanse
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 沐 means.
About 沐
沐Simplified
7Strokes
氵Radical
其它专名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#31924Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 沐
Podcast: 沐
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AI study notes for 沐
Quick Contrast
沐 (mù, to bathe) vs 洗 (xǐ, to wash) — use 沐 for personal bathing or purification rituals, while 洗 is more general for washing objects.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is using 沐 in contexts where 洗 (xǐ) would be more appropriate, such as washing hands. It's more formal and often used in literary or poetic contexts, so avoid using it casually. Note the tone: ensure you pronounce it with a falling tone to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
Although 沐 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to other words related to bathing and cleanliness, like 洗 (xǐ) and 澡 (zǎo). Focus on recognizing its use in classical texts or formal speech to enhance vocabulary in sophisticated contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 沐 with more general terms for washing, leading to incorrect phrases like 沐手 (mùshǒu - to bathe hands) instead of 洗手 (xǐshǒu). Remember, 沐 is more poetic and less common in daily conversation.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 沐
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How well do you know 沐?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 沐 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.
沐 = 氵 + 木. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 沐
IDS Structure⿰氵木
沐Full character
=
氵shui3
left
木Mu4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 沐?
How to say to bathe in Chinese
“to bathe” in Chinese is沐mù
The character 沐 (mù) primarily means 'to bathe' or 'to cleanse.' It is often used in contexts relating to personal hygiene or rituals of purification. Additionally, it can imply receiving something, often in a more abstract sense, such as blessings or education.
When to use 沐
A common mistake is using 沐 in contexts where 洗 (xǐ) would be more appropriate, such as washing hands. It's more formal and often used in literary or poetic contexts, so avoid using it casually. Note the tone: ensure you pronounce it with a falling tone to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.
沐 or something close to it
沐 (mù, to bathe) vs 洗 (xǐ, to wash) — use 沐 for personal bathing or purification rituals, while 洗 is more general for washing objects.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 沐 with more general terms for washing, leading to incorrect phrases like 沐手 (mùshǒu - to bathe hands) instead of 洗手 (xǐshǒu). Remember, 沐 is more poetic and less common in daily conversation.
Write 沐
沐
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Practice writing 沐 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 沐
沐 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 5 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
附近有一片白色沙滩，是____日光浴的绝佳场所。
Nearby there is a stretch of white sand beach perfect for sunbathing.
