默 (mò) - Silent & quiet

默Tone 4

mò ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

妙慕

默 · mò

Silent;

quiet;

still;

tacit;

unspoken;

as in 'silent' or 'tacit agreement'.

Silentquietstill

Usage highlights

SilenceTacit understandingRecite silentlyWrite from memoryRead silentlyTacit approval

Synonyms

  • 静— quiet; calm
  • 寂— still; lonely

Antonyms

  • 喧— noisy; clamorous
  • 闹— bustling; lively

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He remained silent (沉默).
  • They reached a tacit agreement (默契).
  • She read the book silently (默读).
  • The teacher gave a dictation (默写).

Collocations

  • Silence(沉默)
  • Tacit understanding(默契)
  • Recite silently(默诵)
  • Write from memory(默写)
  • Read silently(默读)
  • Tacit approval(默许)

Idioms

  • Silence is golden(沉默是金)
  • Tacit mutual understanding(心照不宣)
  • Engrave on the heart(默记于心)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Confucian tradition, silence is valued as a sign of wisdom and restraint.
  • The character appears in Buddhist contexts for silent meditation and contemplation.
  • In modern usage, it conveys concepts of unspoken agreement and quiet strength.

FAQ