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沫 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
沫
mò
foam
n, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #25798, Very Hard
沫
mò
suds
n, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #25798, Very Hard
沫
mò
bubbles, foam, froth, suds
n, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #25798, Very Hard
mò(mo4)mo T4
1foam
2suds
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March 24, 2026
沫mò(mo4)
The character 沫 (mò) refers to foam, bubbles, or froth, typically formed on the surface of liquids. It is commonly used in contexts related to beverages, soaps, and natural phenomena like waves. The term can evoke imagery of lightness and transience, often used metaphorically in poetry and literature.
Strokes8Radical氵Frequency#25798DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese tea culture, the presence of froth in a well-brewed tea can signify quality and craftsmanship. The character 沫 can be used to describe the beautiful bubbles that form on the surface of freshly brewed tea.
Memory tip
Imagine a soft, fluffy cloud of bubbles (沫) rising from your favorite drink. The character has a water radical (氵) on the left, hinting at its connection to liquids, while the right component can remind you of something delicate and airy. Picture yourself blowing bubbles to remember the sound 'mò'.
Meanings of 沫
mò(mo4)
1foam
2suds
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 沫 means.
About 沫
沫Simplified
8Strokes
氵Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#25798Frequency Rank
Podcast: 沫
Podcast: 沫
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AI study notes for 沫
Quick Contrast
泡沫 (pàomò, bubble) — use 沫 (mò) for foam or froth specifically on surfaces, while 泡沫 (pàomò) refers to bubbles more broadly, including those that may not form a surface layer.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone; 沫 is pronounced with a falling tone (mò), which is distinct from other similar-sounding words. It is typically used in informal contexts but can appear in literary descriptions as well. Common collocations include '泡沫' (pàomò) meaning 'foam' or 'bubbles'.
HSK Study Tips
Although 沫 is not part of the official HSK levels, it connects to vocabulary related to liquids and textures. Focus on its usage in descriptive language, which enhances your ability to discuss nature and culinary topics. Familiarize yourself with other words that relate to liquids (like 水 shuǐ) to deepen your understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 沫 (mò) with 泡 (pào), mistakenly using 泡 to describe foam in contexts where 沫 is more appropriate. For example, saying '茶有泡' (chá yǒu pào) instead of '茶有沫' (chá yǒu mò) is incorrect; use 沫 for the frothy surface of liquids.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 沫
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 沫 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.
沫 = 氵 + 末. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 沫
IDS Structure⿰氵末
沫Full character
=
氵shui3
left
末mo4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 沫?
How to say foam in Chinese
“foam” in Chinese is沫mò
The character 沫 (mò) refers to foam, bubbles, or froth, typically formed on the surface of liquids. It is commonly used in contexts related to beverages, soaps, and natural phenomena like waves. The term can evoke imagery of lightness and transience, often used metaphorically in poetry and literature.
When to use 沫
Be cautious with the tone; 沫 is pronounced with a falling tone (mò), which is distinct from other similar-sounding words. It is typically used in informal contexts but can appear in literary descriptions as well. Common collocations include '泡沫' (pàomò) meaning 'foam' or 'bubbles'.
沫 or something close to it
泡沫 (pàomò, bubble) — use 沫 (mò) for foam or froth specifically on surfaces, while 泡沫 (pàomò) refers to bubbles more broadly, including those that may not form a surface layer.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 沫 (mò) with 泡 (pào), mistakenly using 泡 to describe foam in contexts where 沫 is more appropriate. For example, saying '茶有泡' (chá yǒu pào) instead of '茶有沫' (chá yǒu mò) is incorrect; use 沫 for the frothy surface of liquids.
Write 沫
沫
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Practice writing 沫 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 沫
沫 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 3 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 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
这项新发明能保证啤酒始终保持丰富的泡____。
The new invention ensures the beer keeps a full, frothy head.
The results of the tests indicated that latex and polyurethane foam mattresses burned fastest.
10
阿尔奇嘟嚷了几声,又往地上啐了一口唾沫.
Ā ěr jī dū rǎng le jǐ shēng, yòu wǎng dìshang cuì le yī kǒu tuò mò.
Archie grunted and spat on the floor.
11
咖啡上有很多白色的泡沫。
Kāfēi shàng yǒu hěn duō báisè de pàomò.
There is a lot of white foam on the coffee.
12
洗手液可以产生丰富的泡沫。
Xǐshǒu yè kěyǐ chǎnshēng fēngfù de pàomò.
The hand soap can produce rich foam.
13
他用力吹走了奶茶上的泡沫。
Tā yònglì chuī zǒu le nǎichá shàng de pàomò.
He blew away the foam on the milk tea.
14
洗衣服时，水里有很多泡沫。
Xǐ yīfu shí, shuǐ lǐ yǒu hěn duō pàomò.
When washing clothes, there is a lot of foam in the water.
15
洗发水在水里起了很多泡沫。
Xǐfàshuǐ zài shuǐ lǐ qǐle hěn duō pàomò.
The shampoo created a lot of foam in the water.
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Word Family of 沫
Words containing this character13
泡沫pàomòfoam
唾沫tuòmospittle
沫mòfoam
泡沫塑料pàomòsùliàostyrofoam
郭沫若guōmòruòGuo Moruo (1892-1978), writer, communist party intellectual and cultural apparatchik
相濡以沫xiāngrúyǐmòmutual help in humble circumstances
白沫báimòfroth
吐沫tùmosaliva
飞沫fēimòaerosol飛沫
肥皂沫féizàomòfoam
口沫kǒumòspittle
廖沫沙liàomòshāLiao Mosha (1907-1990), journalist and communist propagandist, severely criticized and imprisoned for 10 years during the Cultural Revolution
涎沫xiánmòspittle
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 沫
What does 泡沫 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 沫
You can say '咖啡上有一层细腻的沫' (Kāfēi shàng yǒu yī céng xìnì de mò), meaning 'There is a layer of fine foam on the coffee.'
While 沫 can appear in poetry and literature, it is generally more common in informal contexts, especially when discussing food and beverages.
You might encounter 泡沫 (pàomò) for 'foam' or 'bubbles', which combines 沫 with 泡 (pào), meaning 'to bubble or froth'.
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