末 (mò) - end, tip, final stage & last in order

末Tone 4

mò ｜ 5 strokes ｜ radical: 木

妙慕

末 · mò

end, tip, final stage;

last in order;

insignificant part;

powder or dust

end, tip, final stagelast in orderinsignificant part

Usage highlights

WeekendEnd of the yearPowderEnd of the monthDetailsLast chapter

Synonyms

  • 终— end, conclusion
  • 尾— tail, end
  • 末梢— tip, extremity

Antonyms

  • 本— root, origin, fundamental
  • 初— beginning, initial
  • 始— start, commencement

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The end of the year(年末)
  • Weekend(周末)
  • Powdered medicine(药末)
  • The last chapter(末章)

Collocations

  • Weekend(周末)
  • End of the year(年末)
  • Powder(粉末)
  • End of the month(月末)
  • Details(末节)
  • Last chapter(末章)

Idioms

  • From beginning to end(本末倒置)
  • Trivial details(细枝末节)
  • The weak and the strong(强弩之末)
  • The end of the road(穷途末路)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese philosophy, 末 contrasts with 本 (root/origin), representing the secondary versus the primary.
  • Historically used in the context of social hierarchy, with merchants often placed at the '末' position in some periods.
  • Appears in Buddhist texts referring to the end of cycles or final stages of existence.

FAQ