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膜 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
膜
mó
membrane
HSK 7, n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #6477, Very Hard
膜
mó
film
HSK 7, n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #6477, Very Hard
膜
mó
membrane, film; to kneel and worship
HSK 7, n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #6477, Very Hard
mó(mo2)mo T2
1membrane
2film
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March 24, 2026
膜mó(mo2)
The character 膜 (mó) primarily refers to a 'membrane' or 'film,' often used in biological contexts, such as cell membranes or protective layers. It can also imply a thin layer or coating in various materials. Additionally, it carries a secondary meaning related to kneeling in worship, reflecting a cultural aspect of reverence.
Strokes14Radical⺼Frequency#6477DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of kneeling and worshipping (related to the secondary meaning of 膜) is significant during traditional ceremonies and in contexts of respect, such as paying homage to ancestors or deities.
Memory tip
Imagine a thin film of plastic (膜) covering something delicate. The character 膜 consists of the radical 肉 (meat), suggesting something soft, and the component '魔' (mó), which sounds like 'mo,' evoking a magical film that protects and encapsulates.
Meanings of 膜
mó(mo2)
1membrane
2film
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 膜 means.
About 膜
膜Simplified
14Strokes
⺼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#6477Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 膜
Podcast: 膜
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AI study notes for 膜
Quick Contrast
薄 (bó, thin) - use 膜 when referring specifically to a membrane or film, while 薄 describes general thinness without the biological context.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 膜 (mó) with other characters that sound similar, such as 摩 (mó), which means 'to rub' or 'to grind.' This term is generally neutral in register but is more commonly used in scientific or technical contexts. Collocations include '细胞膜' (cell membrane) and '保护膜' (protective film).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 膜 (mó) connects with other advanced vocabulary related to science and technology. Focus on how it can be used in specific contexts, such as biology or materials science, to enhance understanding and usage in academic writing.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 膜 (mó) with other similar-sounding words. For example, using 膜 inappropriately in contexts meant for 医疗 (yīliáo, medical) instead of 膜, saying '医疗膜' instead of '保护膜' (protective film). Correct usage is important for clarity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 膜
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 膜 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.
膜 = ⺼ + 莫. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 膜
IDS Structure⿰⺼莫
膜Full character
=
⺼rou4
left
莫Mo4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 膜?
How to say membrane in Chinese
“membrane” in Chinese is膜mó
The character 膜 (mó) primarily refers to a 'membrane' or 'film,' often used in biological contexts, such as cell membranes or protective layers. It can also imply a thin layer or coating in various materials. Additionally, it carries a secondary meaning related to kneeling in worship, reflecting a cultural aspect of reverence.
When to use 膜
Be careful not to confuse 膜 (mó) with other characters that sound similar, such as 摩 (mó), which means 'to rub' or 'to grind.' This term is generally neutral in register but is more commonly used in scientific or technical contexts. Collocations include '细胞膜' (cell membrane) and '保护膜' (protective film).
膜 or something close to it
薄 (bó, thin) - use 膜 when referring specifically to a membrane or film, while 薄 describes general thinness without the biological context.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 膜 (mó) with other similar-sounding words. For example, using 膜 inappropriately in contexts meant for 医疗 (yīliáo, medical) instead of 膜, saying '医疗膜' instead of '保护膜' (protective film). Correct usage is important for clarity.
Write 膜
膜
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Practice writing 膜 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 膜
膜 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
该手术要在角____上做几个切口。
The operation involves making several cuts in the cornea.
