母 (mǔ) - mother & female parent

母Tone 3

mǔ ｜ 5 strokes ｜ radical: 母

妙慕

母 · mǔ

mother;

female parent;

origin;

source;

feminine;

used as a prefix for female animals.

motherfemale parentorigin

Usage highlights

MotherMother tongueAlma materMotherlandMother companyMaternal love

Synonyms

  • 母亲— mother (formal)
  • 妈妈— mom (informal)
  • 娘— mother (colloquial)

Antonyms

  • 父— father
  • 公— male (for animals)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • My mother (母亲) is very kind.
  • This is the mother tongue (母语) of the region.
  • The mother company (母公司) oversees all subsidiaries.
  • Alma mater (母校) refers to one's former school.

Collocations

  • Mother(母亲)
  • Mother tongue(母语)
  • Alma mater(母校)
  • Motherland(母国)
  • Mother company(母公司)
  • Maternal love(母爱)

Idioms

  • Deer suckles its fawn (舐犊情深) — deep maternal love
  • A loving mother and filial son(母慈子孝)
  • The mother of all battles(战争之母)
  • Regret for the mother(悔母)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Confucian culture, the mother represents kindness, nurture, and the foundation of family.
  • The character depicts a woman with prominent breasts, emphasizing the maternal role of nursing.
  • Used metaphorically to denote origin or source in many compound words.

FAQ