茅 (máo) - cogongrass, thatch & a type of grass used for roofing

茅Tone 2

máo ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 艹

伦妙

茅 · máo

cogongrass, thatch;

a type of grass used for roofing;

a surname.

cogongrass, thatcha type of grass used for roofinga surname.

Usage highlights

thatchthatched cottageMao surnamecogongrassMao Mountainthatch roof

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 瓦— tile (as roofing material)
  • 宫— palace (as opposed to humble dwelling)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The roof was made of thatch (茅草屋顶).
  • He is a descendant of the Mao family (茅家的后代).
  • They built a simple thatched cottage (茅屋).
  • Mao Zedong's given name uses a different character (毛泽东).

Collocations

  • thatch(茅草)
  • thatched cottage(茅屋)
  • Mao surname(茅姓)
  • cogongrass(茅草)
  • Mao Mountain(茅山)
  • thatch roof(茅顶)

Idioms

  • Mao Sui recommending himself(毛遂自荐)
  • Three visits to the thatched cottage(三顾茅庐)
  • Living in a thatched hut and eating plain food(茅茨土阶)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically associated with humble dwellings and simple living, as in the idiom 'Three visits to the thatched cottage' referring to Liu Bei's persistence in recruiting Zhuge Liang.
  • Used as a surname with historical figures like Mao Sui from the Warring States period.
  • In traditional Chinese architecture, thatched roofs symbolized simplicity and connection to nature.

FAQ