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末 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
tipHSK 4, f, 5 strokes, radical 木, rank #6426, Medium
endHSK 4, f, 5 strokes, radical 木, rank #6426, Medium
final stageHSK 4, f, 5 strokes, radical 木, rank #6426, Medium
latter partHSK 4, f, 5 strokes, radical 木, rank #6426, Medium
inessential detailHSK 4, f, 5 strokes, radical 木, rank #6426, Medium
powderHSK 4, f, 5 strokes, radical 木, rank #6426, Medium
dustHSK 4, f, 5 strokes, radical 木, rank #6426, Medium
opera role of old manHSK 4, f, 5 strokes, radical 木, rank #6426, Medium
end, final, last; insignificantHSK 4, f, 5 strokes, radical 木, rank #6426, Medium
(mo4) T4
  1. 1tip
  2. 2end
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(mo4)

The character 末 (mò) primarily refers to the end or tip of something, often indicating a final stage or the last part of an object or event. It can also connote insignificance or inessential details, and is used in various contexts, such as in time expressions or to denote the end of a series.

Strokes5RadicalFrequency#6426DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of endings is significant, particularly in festivals that mark the end of the year, like the Lunar New Year, where the old is left behind and a new beginning is celebrated.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tree with its branches stretching out, but at the very end of each branch is a tiny leaf – that's the 末, representing the tip or end. The character's form looks like a simple line at the bottom, hinting at the idea of something being at the end.

Meanings of 末

(mo4)
1tip
2end
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 末

Simplified
5Strokes
Radical
方位词direction word (dir.)Part of Speech
#6426Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 末

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 末

Quick Contrast

末 (mò) vs 尾 (wěi) — use 末 for the end or final stage of something, while 尾 refers specifically to the tail or end part of an object.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a tree with its branches stretching out, but at the very end of each branch is a tiny leaf – that's the 末, representing the tip or end. The character's form looks like a simple line at the bottom, hinting at the idea of something being at the end.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 末 (mò) with its similar-sounding counterpart 么 (me), which has different meanings. It is commonly used in phrases like '月底' (yuèdǐ), meaning 'end of the month,' and can appear in both formal and informal contexts.

HSK Study Tips

Although 末 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it often appears in HSK 3 and 4 vocabulary. Students should focus on its use in time expressions and practice collocations with other words like '年末' (niánmò, end of the year) to enhance comprehension.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of endings is significant, particularly in festivals that mark the end of the year, like the Lunar New Year, where the old is left behind and a new beginning is celebrated.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 末 (mò) with 末尾 (mòwěi), which specifically means 'the end' in a more definitive sense. Remember that while 末 can imply 'end' in many contexts, it's not always interchangeable with other terms for 'end.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 末

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Etymology of 末

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Similar to 木, with an extra line at the top. Depicts the tip of a tree.

Memory Hint

The top 一 of a tree 木

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 末?

Decomposition of 末

IDS Structure⿻木一
Full Character
=
Mu4
outer
yi1
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 末?

Write 末

Practice writing 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 末

Exercise 1 of 3

Complete the Sentence

周____我喜欢看看书、听听音乐什么的。

On weekends I like to read books, listen to music, and stuff like that.

Common Confusions with 末

vs
wèi

Similar shape and pronunciation, but different meanings.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "tip"?

or

Example Sentences for 末 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
成功不是终点,失败也并非末日,最重要的是继续前进的勇气。

chéng gōng bù shì zhōng diǎn, , shī bài yě bìng fēi mò, rì , zuì zhòng yào de shì jì xù qián jìn de。

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.--Winston Churchill
2
卡姆登市场是周末的最佳去处。

kǎ mǔ dēng shì cháng shì zhōu mò de zuì jiā qù chǔ。

Camden Market is the place to be on a Saturday or Sunday.
3
到80年代末的时候,他们的数量已是原来的4倍。

dào80 80 nián dài mò de shí, hòu , tā mén de shù liáng yǐ shì yuán4 lái。

By the late eighties their number had grown fourfold.
4
经过3个周末的追求之后,帕梅拉接受了伦道夫的求婚。

jīng guò3 3 gè zhōu mò de zhuī qiú zhī, hòu , pà méi lā jiē shòu le lún dào fū de。

After a three-weekend courtship, Pamela accepted Randolph's proposal of marriage.
5
周末右翼分子对外国人的攻击最终演变成了这场骚乱。

zhōu mò yòu yì fēn zǐ duì wài guó rén de gōng jī zuì zhōng yǎn biàn chéng le zhè cháng sāo luàn。

The unrest capped a weekend of right-wing attacks on foreigners.
6
获胜者将在本周末的季后赛中对阵奥克兰运动者队。

huò shèng zhě jiāng zài běn zhōu mò de jì hòu sài zhōng duì zhèn ào kè lán yùn dòng zhě duì。

The winner will face the Oakland A's in the playoffs this weekend.
7
正确答案在第8页末尾。

zhèng què dá àn zài dì8 8 yè mò。

The correct answers can be found at the bottom of page
8
为什么香料在15世纪末期的欧洲如此贵重?

wéi shí mó xiāng liào zài15 15 shì jì mò qī de ōu zhōu rú cǐ guì?

Why were spices so highly valued in late 15th-century Europe?
9
这些船都有编号,末尾都是LBK。

zhè xiē chuán dū yǒu biān hào, , mò wěi dūLBK。

These ships were all numbered with the suffix LBK.
10
周末时丑闻有了新的发展。

zhōu mò shí chǒu wén yǒu le xīn de fā zhǎn。

The scandal took a new turn over the weekend.

Cultural Notes for 末

💡Did you know?

'末' is often used in phrases indicating the end of something, like '年末' (end of the year). It reflects the idea of closure in both time and narratives.

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of endings is significant, particularly in festivals that mark the end of the year, like the Lunar New Year, where the old is left behind and a new beginning is celebrated.

Word Family of 末

Compounds16
wa4socks
ma1to wipe
mo4foam
mo4white jasmine
mo4fodder, horse feed; to feed a horse
Words Containing This Character20
tip
周末zhōumòweekend週末
末日mòrìend
粉末fěnmòdust
芥末mustard
年末end of the year
末端tip
末期last part
世界末日end of the world
期末qīmòend of term
末尾end
岁末end of the year歲末
末了in the end
末梢tip
末班车last chance末班車
月末end of month
末路final road
始末whole story
末年the final years (of a regime)
末世last phase (of an age)
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 袜 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 末

末 (mò) refers more to the 'end' or 'tip' of something, while 结束 (jiéshù) means 'to finish' or 'to complete.' In usage, 末 often describes a point in time or place, whereas 结束 is an action indicating that something has come to a close.