摩 (mó) - To rub, chafe, grind & to polish

摩Tone 2

mó ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

妙慕

摩 · mó

To rub, chafe, grind;

to polish;

to study;

to approach;

to imitate;

also used in words for friction, massage, and motorcycle.

To rub, chafe, grindto polishto study

Usage highlights

MassageMotorcycleFrictionTo ponderTo rub hands eagerlyTo sharpen through friction

Synonyms

  • 擦— to wipe, rub
  • 磨— to grind, polish

Antonyms

  • 分— to separate, divide
  • 离— to leave, depart

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Massage therapy(按摩)
  • Motorcycle(摩托车)
  • Friction coefficient(摩擦系数)
  • To ponder and imitate(揣摩)
  • To rub one's hands(摩拳擦掌)

Collocations

  • Massage(按摩)
  • Motorcycle(摩托车)
  • Friction(摩擦)
  • To ponder(揣摩)
  • To rub hands eagerly(摩拳擦掌)
  • To sharpen through friction(摩砺)

Idioms

  • Rubbing shoulders and following in each other's footsteps(肩摩踵接)
  • Rubbing fists and wiping palms(摩拳擦掌)
  • Shoulder to shoulder and hub to hub(肩摩毂击)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically associated with the act of polishing jade or sharpening tools, symbolizing refinement and preparation.
  • In Buddhism, 'Mó' appears in 'Móhē' (摩诃), meaning 'great' or 'vast', used in terms like Mahayana (摩诃衍).
  • The character is used in modern terms for technology and transportation (e.g., motorcycle).

FAQ