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沫 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
沫mòfoamn, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #25798, Very Hard
沫mòsudsn, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #25798, Very Hard
沫mòbubbles, foam, froth, sudsn, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #25798, Very Hard
mò(mo4)mo T4
  1. 1foam
  2. 2suds
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
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

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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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Etymology of 沫

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 末 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

water

Semantic (meaning)氵
+
Phonetic (sound)末
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

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

Practice writing 沫 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

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.

Example Sentences for 沫 (15)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
这项新发明能保证啤酒始终保持丰富的泡沫。

zhè xiàng xīn fā míng néng bǎo zhèng pí jiǔ shǐ zhōng bǎo chí fēng fù de pào mò。

The new invention ensures the beer keeps a full, frothy head.
2
他用毛巾抹去余下的皂沫。

tā yòng máo jīn mǒ qù yú xià de zào mò。

He wiped off the remains of the lather with a towel.
3
泡沫给吹开了。

pào mò gěi chuī kāi le。

The froth is blown away.
4
把蛋清搅至起沫而不黏稠的程度。

bǎ dàn qīng jiǎo zhì qǐ mò ér bù nián chóu de chéng dù。

Whisk the egg whites until they are foamy but not stiff.
5
该公司用泡沫塑料包住牌匾,以防止其在运输过程中受损。

gāi gōng sī yòng pào mò sù liào bāo zhù pái biǎn, , yǐ fáng zhǐ qí zài yùn shū guò chéng zhōng shòu。

The company provides a styrofoam cushion to protect the tablets during shipping.
6
海水在我的脚上泛起泡沫。

hǎi shuǐ zài wǒ de jiǎo shàng fàn qǐ pào mò。

The sea froths over my feet.
7
上面有厚厚一层泡沫的一杯啤酒

shàng miàn yǒu hòu hòu yī céng pào mò de yī bēi pí jiǔ

a glass of beer with a good head of foam
8
上面有厚厚一层泡沫的一杯啤酒

shàng miàn yǒu hòu hòu yī céng pào mò de yī bēi pí jiǔ

a glass of beer with thick froth on top
9
试验结果表明,天然乳胶和聚氨基甲酸乙酯泡沫床垫燃烧得最快.

shì yàn jié guǒ biǎo míng, , tiān rán rǔ jiāo hé jù ān jī jiǎ suān yǐ zhǐ pào mò chuáng diàn rán shāo dé zuì.

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 qí dū rǎng le jī shēng, , yòu wǎng dì shàng cuì le yī kǒu tuò.

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spittle
沫mòfoam
泡沫塑料styrofoam
郭沫若Guo Moruo (1892-1978), writer, communist party intellectual and cultural apparatchik
相濡以沫mutual help in humble circumstances
白沫froth
吐沫saliva
飞沫aerosol飛沫
肥皂沫foam
口沫spittle
廖沫沙Liao Mosha (1907-1990), journalist and communist propagandist, severely criticized and imprisoned for 10 years during the Cultural Revolution
涎沫spittle
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.'

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