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某 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
某
mǒu
some
HSK 5, r, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #1164, Hard
某
mǒu
a certain
HSK 5, r, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #1164, Hard
某
mǒu
sb or sth indefinite
HSK 5, r, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #1164, Hard
某
mǒu
such-and-such
HSK 5, r, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #1164, Hard
某
mǒu
some, someone; a certain thing or person
HSK 5, r, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #1164, Hard
mǒu(mou3)mou T3
1some
2a certain
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March 24, 2026
某mǒu(mou3)
The character 某 (mǒu) refers to an indefinite or unspecified person or thing, often translated as 'some' or 'a certain.' It is commonly used in contexts where the exact identity is not crucial, such as in discussions or examples where specifics are less important.
Strokes9Radical木Frequency#1164DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the use of 某 reflects a tendency to maintain ambiguity in certain situations, which can be seen in traditional storytelling or in formal discussions where specifics might be avoided for politeness or discretion.
Memory tip
Imagine a mysterious figure behind a curtain—this is 某 (mǒu), representing someone or something unspecified. The character combines the radical for 'tree' (木) with a component that suggests 'certain' or 'some,' evoking the idea of something hidden in nature.
Meanings of 某
mǒu(mou3)
1some
2a certain
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 某 means.
About 某
某Simplified
9Strokes
木Radical
代词dàicípronoun (pron.)Part of Speech
#1164Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 某
Podcast: 某
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AI study notes for 某
Quick Contrast
某 (mǒu) vs 某些 (mǒuxiē): Use 某 when referring to an unspecified singular person or thing, while 某些 indicates an unspecified plural.
Usage Notes
Be aware that 某 is often used in formal contexts, such as legal documents or academic texts. A common mistake is to use it too casually in spoken language, where more specific terms may be preferred. Remember that it typically precedes nouns.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 某 connects to other words that indicate uncertainty or vagueness, such as 不确定 (bù què dìng, uncertain) and 一些 (yī xiē, some). Focus on practicing its usage in sentences to understand its nuances.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 某 with the more specific term 某个 (mǒu gè), which means 'a certain one,' leading to overuse in contexts that require specificity. Ensure that 某 is used when ambiguity is intended.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 某
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Knowing 某 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.
The character 某 (mǒu) refers to an indefinite or unspecified person or thing, often translated as 'some' or 'a certain.' It is commonly used in contexts where the exact identity is not crucial, such as in discussions or examples where specifics are less important.
When to use 某
Be aware that 某 is often used in formal contexts, such as legal documents or academic texts. A common mistake is to use it too casually in spoken language, where more specific terms may be preferred. Remember that it typically precedes nouns.
某 or something close to it
某 (mǒu) vs 某些 (mǒuxiē): Use 某 when referring to an unspecified singular person or thing, while 某些 indicates an unspecified plural.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes confuse 某 with the more specific term 某个 (mǒu gè), which means 'a certain one,' leading to overuse in contexts that require specificity. Ensure that 某 is used when ambiguity is intended.
Write 某
某
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Grammar patterns of 某
某 functions as a pronoun — it stands in for a noun. Use it in the same positions as nouns (subject before verb, object after). Plurals are formed by adding 们 (我们, 他们). It carries 5 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.
It would be a case of "just do so-and-so and here'syour cash"
4
草图应该是最终绘画的某种演练。
cǎo tú yīnggāi shì zuìzhōng huìhuà de mǒu zhǒng yǎnliàn。
The sketch should be a kind of rehearsal for the eventual painting.
5
她告诉我们她是某苏格兰勋爵的后裔。
tā gàosu wǒmen tā shì mǒu sū gé lán xūn jué de hòuyì。
She told us she was descended from some Scottish Lord.
6
有人偷了某个影星的钻石了吗?
yǒurén tōu le mǒu gè yǐngxīng de zuànshí le ma?
Has somebody helped himself to some film star's diamonds?
7
你欠某人一笔钱。
nǐ qiàn mǒu rén yī bǐ qián。
You owe a certain person a sum of money.
8
某厂家由于疏忽，制造并销售了一款刹车系统存在缺陷的汽车。
mǒu chǎngjiā yóuyú shūhu， zhìzào bìng xiāoshòu le yī kuǎn shāchē xìtǒng cúnzài quēxiàn de qìchē。
A manufacturer negligently made and marketed a car with defective brakes.
9
她跟某一同事有染。
tā gēn mǒu yìtóng shì yǒu rǎn。
She was having an affair with someone at work.
10
他为某些思想较守旧的官员所憎恶。
tā wèi mǒu xiē sīxiǎng jiào shǒu jiù de guānyuán suǒ zēng è。
He is loathed by some of the more traditionally minded officers.
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Word Family of 某
Compounds8
谋móuto plan
媒méimedium
煤méicoal
禖méi
腜méi
楳méi
湈méi
謀móuto plan, to scheme; strategem
Words containing this character7
某mǒusome
某些mǒuxiēsome
某种mǒuzhǒngsome kind (of)某種
某人mǒurénsomeone
某某mǒumǒuso-and-so
某地mǒudìsomewhere
某甲mǒujiǎsomebody
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 某
What does 谋 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 某
While 某 (mǒu) refers to 'some' or 'a certain' and is often used for indefinite references, 任何 (rènhé) means 'any' and is used in a more general sense. For example, '任何人' (rènhé rén) translates to 'any person', indicating inclusivity, whereas '某人' (mǒu rén) specifies a certain individual without naming them.
某 (mǒu) is a Chinese character that means 'some' or 'a certain'. It is often used to refer to an indefinite person or thing, similar to 'such-and-such' in English. This character is commonly found in phrases and contexts where the exact identity is not specified.
To use 某 (mǒu) in a sentence, you can place it before a noun to indicate an indefinite or unspecified person or thing. For example, '某人' (mǒu rén) means 'a certain person' and '某物' (mǒu wù) means 'a certain thing'. This usage helps to keep the subject vague while still conveying meaning.
Yes, 某 can refer to an unspecified person, similar to saying 'someone' in English.
It is more frequently found in written or formal contexts than in everyday conversation.
Yes, you can also use 一些 (yī xiē) or 某些 (mǒu xiē) to indicate some or certain things.
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