Meanings of 寞
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About 寞
Podcast: 寞
Podcast: 寞
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AI Study Notes for 寞
孤独 (gū dú, loneliness) vs 寂寞 (jì mò, loneliness) — use 寞 (mò) when emphasizing a quiet, still aspect of solitude.
Students often confuse 寞 with similar characters like 孤 (gū, lonely) or 独 (dú, alone), but 寞 specifically emphasizes the emotional weight of loneliness. It is more commonly used in literary contexts rather than everyday conversation, so be mindful of the register in which you use it.
While 寞 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with other emotions expressed in Chinese, like 忧 (yōu, worry) or 愁 (chóu, sorrow). Focus on understanding how emotional states are expressed through different characters and practice using them in context.
Learners often misuse 寞 by substituting it with 孤 or 独, which are not interchangeable. For instance, saying '我感觉孤' (wǒ gǎnjué gū) instead of '我感觉寞' (wǒ gǎnjué mò) misses the emotional nuance of loneliness that 寞 conveys.
Pronunciation of 寞
Drill the tone of 寞 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 寞
Phonosemantic compound. 宀 represents the meaning and 莫 represents the sound.
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Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 寞
Phonosemantic compound. 宀 represents the meaning and 莫 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half宀 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half莫 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayroof
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 寞? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 寞?
Decomposition of 寞
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 寞?
How to say lonesome in Chinese
“lonesome” in Chinese is寞
The character 寞 (mò) conveys a sense of loneliness or stillness, often used to describe an emotional state of feeling isolated or solitary. It can also imply a quietness or silence that accompanies such feelings. Commonly used in literature and poetry, it evokes a deep emotional resonance related to solitude.
When to use 寞
Students often confuse 寞 with similar characters like 孤 (gū, lonely) or 独 (dú, alone), but 寞 specifically emphasizes the emotional weight of loneliness. It is more commonly used in literary contexts rather than everyday conversation, so be mindful of the register in which you use it.
寞 or something close to it
孤独 (gū dú, loneliness) vs 寂寞 (jì mò, loneliness) — use 寞 (mò) when emphasizing a quiet, still aspect of solitude.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 寞 by substituting it with 孤 or 独, which are not interchangeable. For instance, saying '我感觉孤' (wǒ gǎnjué gū) instead of '我感觉寞' (wǒ gǎnjué mò) misses the emotional nuance of loneliness that 寞 conveys.
Write 寞
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Practice writing 寞 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 寞
寞 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Complete the Sentence
内心痛苦、突感寂____的她去寻找琼－保罗。
Miserable, and unexpectedly lonely, she went in search of Jean-Paul.
Example Sentences for 寞 (4)
Word Family of 寞
Compound Meaning
What does 寂寞 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 寞
It is pronounced as 'mò', with a falling tone.
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