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貘 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
貘mòpanther, tapirg, 17 strokes, radical 豸, rank #49433, Very Hard
mò(mo4)mo T4
  1. 1panther, tapir
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March 24, 2026

貘mò(mo4)

The character 貘 (mò) refers to a tapir, a large herbivorous mammal native to Central and South America and Southeast Asia. It is also sometimes used poetically to refer to a panther, though this usage is less common. The word is often found in literature and discussions about wildlife.

Strokes17Radical豸Frequency#49433DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, animals like the tapir can symbolize uniqueness and biodiversity, reflecting China's rich natural heritage. The character 貘 may sometimes appear in folklore or stories illustrating the connection between humans and nature.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'moth' (sounds like 'mò') that has a big, round body like a tapir. Picture it flapping its wings while waddling through the jungle, blending in with the shadows, much like a panther. The character 貘 has the radical '貝', which relates to wealth, hinting at the value of understanding such unique animals.

Meanings of 貘

mò(mo4)
1panther, tapir
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 貘

貘Simplified
17Strokes
豸Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 貘

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Podcast: 貘

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AI study notes for 貘

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 貘 with similar-sounding characters; the context usually clarifies its meaning. This term is more likely to be used in formal or literary contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Common collocations include terms related to wildlife and conservation.

HSK Study Tips

While 貘 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance comprehension of texts that discuss animals or nature. Focus on the pronunciation and the context in which the word appears to differentiate it from other animal names.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 貘 with similar characters due to its rare usage. For example, mistakenly using it to refer to common animals like 'cat' or 'dog' instead of its specific meaning of 'tapir' can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 貘

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Etymology of 貘

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

beast

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

Origin

貘 = 豸 + 莫. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 貘

IDS Structure⿰豸莫
貘Full character
=
豸zhi4
left
莫Mo4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 貘?

How to say panther, tapir in Chinese

“panther, tapir” in Chinese is貘mò

The character 貘 (mò) refers to a tapir, a large herbivorous mammal native to Central and South America and Southeast Asia. It is also sometimes used poetically to refer to a panther, though this usage is less common. The word is often found in literature and discussions about wildlife.

When to use 貘

Be careful not to confuse 貘 with similar-sounding characters; the context usually clarifies its meaning. This term is more likely to be used in formal or literary contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Common collocations include terms related to wildlife and conservation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 貘 with similar characters due to its rare usage. For example, mistakenly using it to refer to common animals like 'cat' or 'dog' instead of its specific meaning of 'tapir' can lead to misunderstandings.

Write 貘

貘

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

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Word Family of 貘

Words containing this character1
貘mòtapir

Frequently asked questions about 貘

It means 'tapir' or can refer to a 'panther' in some contexts.

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