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) 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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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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Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 木 represents the sound.
1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
2The sound half木 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywater
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 沐? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 沐?
Decomposition of 沐
IDS Structure⿰氵木
沐Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
木Mu4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component 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
Complete the Sentence
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.
