慕 (mù) - To admire & to yearn for

慕Tone 4

mù ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

慧懿

慕 · mù

To admire;

to yearn for;

to adore;

to cherish;

to long for;

to aspire to.

To admireto yearn forto adore

Usage highlights

Admire talentYearn for fameAdore virtueCherish affectionLong for the pastAspire to learn

Synonyms

  • 羡— To envy; to admire
  • 仰— To look up to; to admire
  • 爱— To love; to cherish

Antonyms

  • 厌— To detest; to dislike
  • 憎— To hate; to loathe
  • 恶— To dislike; to hate

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I admire his talent (慕他的才华).
  • She yearns for her hometown (慕家乡).
  • There is a sense of admiration from afar (有仰慕之情).
  • He cherishes a deep affection (慕深情).

Collocations

  • Admire talent(慕才)
  • Yearn for fame(慕名)
  • Adore virtue(慕德)
  • Cherish affection(慕情)
  • Long for the past(慕古)
  • Aspire to learn(慕学)

Idioms

  • To be greedy for profit and seek fame(慕利求名)
  • To admire the virtuous and yearn for the righteous(慕德向义)
  • To long for the ancients and admire the past(慕古尚昔)
  • Heart full of admiration(心慕手追)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Confucian culture, '慕' represents a positive moral and emotional orientation, such as admiring sages and yearning for virtuous conduct.
  • The character often appears in contexts expressing deep emotional longing or intellectual aspiration, reflecting traditional values of self-cultivation.
  • In modern usage, it maintains its classical connotations while being applied in contemporary contexts of admiration and aspiration.

FAQ