帽 (mào) - Hat & cap

帽Tone 4

mào ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

伦妙

帽 · mào

Hat;

cap;

headgear;

also used metaphorically for something that resembles a hat in shape or function.

Hatcapheadgear

Usage highlights

HatBaseball capStraw hatWinter hatSun hatSafety helmet

Synonyms

  • 冠— formal headdress, crown
  • 盔— helmet, protective headgear

Antonyms

  • 鞋— shoe (opposite end of body covering)
  • 袜— sock (foot covering vs. head covering)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He wears a baseball cap (棒球帽).
  • This winter hat is very warm (冬帽).
  • She bought a new sun hat (太阳帽).
  • The mushroom has a cap shape (蘑菇帽).

Collocations

  • Hat(帽子)
  • Baseball cap(棒球帽)
  • Straw hat(草帽)
  • Winter hat(冬帽)
  • Sun hat(太阳帽)
  • Safety helmet(安全帽)

Idioms

  • To throw one's hat in the air (in jubilation)(弹冠相庆)
  • To hang up one's hat and retire(挂冠而去)
  • A high hat (metaphor for arrogance)(高帽子)
  • To wear a green hat (symbol of a cuckold)(戴绿帽子)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese culture, different hats historically indicated social status and profession.
  • The 'green hat' (绿帽子) carries strong cultural stigma, symbolizing a man whose wife is unfaithful.
  • Hats were important markers of official rank in imperial China, with different styles for different court positions.

FAQ