Learn a Chinese Character - 磨

1. Character Basics

Radical: 石 (stone radical, representing objects made of stone)

Stroke Count: 16 strokes

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: mó (Second tone)

3. Meaning

To grind; to mill; to wear down; to sharpen; to rub; to polish; to abrade; to rub against; to grind away; to wear; to sharpen a tool; to mill grain; to rub one's hands together; to work hard; to study diligently

4. Common Words

• 打磨 (dǎ mó) - To polish; to grind smooth
• 磨练 (mó liàn) - To temper; to refine; to discipline
• 磨坊 (mó fáng) - A mill; a grinding mill
• 磨刀石 (mó dāo shí) - A whetstone; a sharpening stone
• 磨灭 (mó miè) - To wear away; to obliterate; to efface
• 磨合 (mó hé) - To break in; to run in; to adapt to each other
• 磨砂 (mó shā) - Frosted glass; to sand; to abrade
• 研磨 (yán mó) - To grind; to mill; to polish

5. Grammar & Usage

The character "磨" is primarily used as a verb, meaning "to grind" or "to wear down". It can also be used as a noun to refer to tools or processes related to grinding.

• As a transitive verb: "磨" is often followed by an object, indicating what is being ground or polished, e.g., "磨刀" (mó dāo) - to sharpen a knife.
• With complements: "磨" can take resultative complements to indicate the outcome of the grinding action, e.g., "磨平" (mó píng) - to grind flat.
• Compound verbs: "磨" is commonly used in compound verbs to express more specific grinding-related actions, e.g., "打磨" (dǎ mó) - to polish.
• Figurative usage: In abstract contexts, "磨" can mean "to work hard" or "to persist", e.g., "磨时间" (mó shí jiān) - to while away time.
• Idiomatic expressions: "磨" appears in various idioms, such as "好事多磨" (hǎo shì duō mó) - good things come after many trials.

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, the character "磨" has deep cultural significance related to traditional craftsmanship, daily life, and philosophical concepts.

Historically, stone mills (石磨, shí mó) were essential tools in rural China for grinding grains into flour, a process that was central to food preparation for thousands of years. The operation of a stone mill often required cooperation between family members or community members, symbolizing the value of collective effort.

Metaphorically, "磨" is often used to describe the process of personal refinement through perseverance and hard work. This is reflected in idioms like "十年磨一剑" (shí nián mó yī jiàn) - "to grind a sword for ten years," which means to spend many years perfecting one's skills.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character "磨" has 16 strokes and is composed of "麻" (má, hemp/fiber) on top and "石" (shí, stone) at the bottom. Here are some tips to remember it:

• Structure Analysis: Remember the top part "麻" (hemp) and the bottom part "石" (stone). Together, they represent the process of grinding or polishing materials like hemp on stone.
• Pronunciation Memory: The pronunciation "mó" rhymes with "磨"'s meaning of continuous movement (like grinding).
• Meaning Association: Visualize an old stone mill grinding grain - this connects the character's shape (with "石" for stone) to its core meaning.
• Stroke Order: Focus on writing the top part "麻" correctly first, then add the "石" radical at the bottom. Break it down into smaller parts to master the 16-stroke sequence.
• Usage Examples: Practice using words like "磨刀" (sharpen a knife) and "磨练" (temper oneself) to reinforce both the character's form and meaning.