Meanings of 磨
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About 磨
Podcast: 磨
Podcast: 磨
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AI Study Notes for 磨
磨 (mó, grind) vs 刻 (kè, carve) — choose 磨 when referring to grinding or polishing, while 刻 is for cutting into a surface.
Learners often confuse 磨 with similar verbs like 切 (qiē, to cut) or 磨 (mó, to grind) due to their overlapping meanings. This character is used in both formal and informal contexts, so pay attention to collocations like 磨刀 (mó dāo, to sharpen a knife) and 磨时间 (mó shíjiān, to waste time). Be cautious with the third tone; confusion with the second tone can change the meaning.
磨 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, but it connects with other action verbs like 切 (qiē, to cut) and 磨 (mó, to grind) at similar proficiency levels. Focus on its usage in different contexts and practice constructing sentences to enhance fluency.
Learners often mispronounce 磨 as 'mà' (fourth tone), which can lead to confusion with a different meaning. The correct tone is 'mó' (second tone). Additionally, some may incorrectly use it in contexts not referring to grinding or polishing, such as using it for cutting tasks.
Pronunciation of 磨
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Jason Explains 磨 to You
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Learning Lab
Knowing 磨 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.
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Etymology of 磨
Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 麻 represents the sound.
stone
Origin
磨 = 石 + 麻. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 磨
Parts
Which of these is part of 磨?
How to say to rub in Chinese
“to rub” in Chinese is磨
The character 磨 (mó) primarily means 'to grind' or 'to polish,' often used in contexts involving physical action, such as grinding grain or polishing surfaces. It can also imply the act of wearing something down over time, or metaphorically, wasting time or pestering someone. This versatility makes it applicable in both tangible and abstract situations.
When to use 磨
Learners often confuse 磨 with similar verbs like 切 (qiē, to cut) or 磨 (mó, to grind) due to their overlapping meanings. This character is used in both formal and informal contexts, so pay attention to collocations like 磨刀 (mó dāo, to sharpen a knife) and 磨时间 (mó shíjiān, to waste time). Be cautious with the third tone; confusion with the second tone can change the meaning.
磨 or something close to it
磨 (mó, grind) vs 刻 (kè, carve) — choose 磨 when referring to grinding or polishing, while 刻 is for cutting into a surface.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mispronounce 磨 as 'mà' (fourth tone), which can lead to confusion with a different meaning. The correct tone is 'mó' (second tone). Additionally, some may incorrectly use it in contexts not referring to grinding or polishing, such as using it for cutting tasks.
Write 磨
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Practice writing 磨 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 磨
磨 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 12 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.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
这双鞋把脚____破了。
These shoes rubbed my feet raw.
Example Sentences for 磨 (10)
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Word Family of 磨
Characters with 磨
What does 蘑 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 磨
Common phrases include 磨刀 (to sharpen a knife) and 磨时间 (to waste time).
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