摀 (wǔ) - To cover with the hand & to seal

摀Tone 3

wǔ ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

万响

摀 · wǔ

To cover with the hand;

to seal;

to muffle;

to conceal.

To cover with the handto sealto muffle

Usage highlights

Cover the mouthCover the earsCover the eyesCover the noseCover the faceCover tightly

Synonyms

  • 盖— to cover; to lid
  • 掩— to cover; to conceal
  • 遮— to cover; to shield

Antonyms

  • 露— to expose; to reveal
  • 揭— to uncover; to lift
  • 开— to open

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He covered his mouth while laughing (摀着嘴笑).
  • She covered her ears to block out the noise (摀住耳朵).
  • The child covered his eyes during the scary part (摀着眼睛).
  • Please cover the pot to keep the heat in (把锅摀上).

Collocations

  • Cover the mouth(摀嘴)
  • Cover the ears(摀耳)
  • Cover the eyes(摀眼)
  • Cover the nose(摀鼻)
  • Cover the face(摀脸)
  • Cover tightly(摀住)

Idioms

  • Covering ears and stealing bells(摀耳盗铃)
  • Covering eyes to catch sparrows(摀眼捉雀)
  • Covering the sky with one hand(一手摀天)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 摀 depicts the action of covering or sealing with the hand, combining the hand radical (扌) with the phonetic component 烏 (crow).
  • In Chinese culture, covering specific body parts like mouth or ears can carry cultural meanings of restraint, secrecy, or avoidance.
  • The idiom 'Covering ears and stealing bells' (摀耳盗铃) illustrates the foolishness of self-deception.

FAQ