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March 24, 2026
莫mò(Mo4)
The character 莫 (mò) primarily conveys negation, meaning 'do not' or 'there is none who.' It is often used in literary contexts or formal expressions. Additionally, it can serve as a surname, common in Chinese culture.
Strokes10Radical艹Frequency#2823DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese literature, 莫 is often used in poetry and classical works to express philosophical ideas of absence or denial, reflecting cultural values around humility and restraint.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'mo'ose (莫) shaking its head in refusal, representing 'do not.' The character's form resembles a person (亻) rejecting something (木), reinforcing the meaning of negation.
Meanings of 莫
mò(Mo4)
1do not
2there is none who
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 莫
莫Simplified
10Strokes
艹Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#2823Frequency Rank
Podcast: 莫
Podcast: 莫
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AI Study Notes for 莫
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 莫 with other negation words like 不 (bù) or 没 (méi), as they have slightly different uses. It is mostly used in formal or literary contexts, and learners should note its negative connotation in sentences.
HSK Study Tips
Although 莫 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with more advanced concepts of negation and literary expressions. Focus on its usage in classical texts or idiomatic phrases to enhance your understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 莫 with 不, using it in inappropriate contexts. For example, saying '莫去' (mò qù) instead of '不要去' (bù yào qù) for 'do not go' is incorrect; 莫 is too formal for everyday use.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 莫
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Depicts the sun (日) shining through vegetation (艸). Based on the original meaning "sunset", now written as 暮. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 莫? 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 莫?
Decomposition of 莫
IDS Structure⿱艹旲
莫Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
旲tai2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 莫?
How to say do not in Chinese
“do not” in Chinese is莫mò
The character 莫 (mò) primarily conveys negation, meaning 'do not' or 'there is none who.' It is often used in literary contexts or formal expressions. Additionally, it can serve as a surname, common in Chinese culture.
When to use 莫
Be careful not to confuse 莫 with other negation words like 不 (bù) or 没 (méi), as they have slightly different uses. It is mostly used in formal or literary contexts, and learners should note its negative connotation in sentences.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mix up 莫 with 不, using it in inappropriate contexts. For example, saying '莫去' (mò qù) instead of '不要去' (bù yào qù) for 'do not go' is incorrect; 莫 is too formal for everyday use.
Write 莫
莫
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Practice writing 莫 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 莫
莫 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 4 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.
Yes, 莫 (Mò) is a recognized surname in China, though it is not among the most common. It can also be a character used in various expressions and idioms.
There are several idioms that incorporate 莫, such as 莫名其妙 (mò míng qí miào), which means 'inexplicable' or 'unfathomable.' These phrases often enrich the language and convey deeper meanings.
莫 (mò) can mean 'do not' or 'there is none who' in various contexts. It is often used as a negative word or to indicate absence. Additionally, it can serve as a surname.
You can use 莫 in sentences to convey negation. For example, 莫担心 (mò dānxīn) means 'do not worry.' It emphasizes the negation and can be used similarly to 不 (bù) in other contexts.
No, 莫 is more formal and often used in literary contexts, while 不 is more commonly used in everyday conversation.
It's rare in spoken language and is typically reserved for written or formal contexts.
Common phrases include '莫非' (mòfēi) meaning 'could it be that...' which expresses doubt or speculation.
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