Learn a Chinese Character - 沫

1. Character Basics

Radical: 氵 (water radical, simplified form of 水, representing water or liquid-related concepts)

Stroke Count: 8 strokes

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: mò (Fourth tone)

3. Meaning

Froth; foam; bubbles; frothy substance; suds; lather; foam on water; foam from liquid; small bubbles on the surface of a liquid; frothy film; foam produced by agitation; foam from waves; foam from soap or detergent

4. Common Words

• 泡沫 (pào mò) - foam; bubbles
• 飞沫 (fēi mò) - spray; droplets
• 唾沫 (tuò mo) - saliva; spittle
• 沫子 (mò zi) - froth; foam
• 浮沫 (fú mò) - floating foam; scum
• 口沫 (kǒu mò) - saliva; spittle
• 浪沫 (làng mò) - wave foam; sea foam
• 肥皂沫 (féi zào mò) - soap suds; lather

5. Grammar & Usage

"沫" is primarily a noun meaning "froth" or "foam". It is often used in compound words or phrases to describe frothy or bubbly substances, particularly those related to liquids. In most cases, it functions as a component of compound nouns rather than as a standalone word.

• Noun Usage: 泡沫 (foam), 飞沫 (spray), 唾沫 (saliva)
• Compound Nouns: 肥皂沫 (soap suds), 浪沫 (wave foam), 口沫 (spittle)
• Descriptive Phrases: 充满泡沫的 (full of foam), 带沫的 (with foam)
• Figurative Use: 泡沫经济 (bubble economy), 泡沫婚姻 (shallow marriage)
• Collocations with Verbs: 产生泡沫 (produce foam), 吹起泡泡 (blow bubbles)

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, the character "沫" holds various symbolic and practical meanings. It is often associated with water, purity, and transience, reflecting the cultural significance of water in Chinese philosophy and daily life.

The term "泡沫" (bubble/foam) has gained particular importance in modern Chinese economic discourse, referring to speculative economic bubbles. This reflects how traditional characters adapt to describe contemporary concepts and phenomena.

In Chinese literature and poetry, "沫" is sometimes used metaphorically to describe fleeting or ephemeral beauty, similar to how foam quickly forms and dissipates on water. This symbolism aligns with traditional Chinese aesthetic values that appreciate the beauty of impermanence.

In everyday life, "沫" is commonly encountered in various contexts, from the foam on tea or beer to the suds from soap, demonstrating its practical importance in Chinese language and culture. The character also appears in idiomatic expressions, such as "相濡以沫" (xiāng rú yǐ mò), which means to help each other in difficult times, originally referring to fish moistening each other with saliva when water dries up.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character "沫" has 8 strokes and is composed of "氵" (water radical) on the left and "末" (end/tip) on the right. The combination represents foam or froth that forms at the surface or "end" of a liquid.

• Structure Analysis: The left side "氵" indicates a water-related meaning, while the right side "末" means "end" or "tip". Together they represent foam that forms at the surface (tip) of water or other liquids.
• Sound Association: The right part "末" (mò) helps with remembering the pronunciation "mò".
• Meaning Connection: Think of common examples like soap suds (肥皂沫), sea foam (浪沫), or beer foam to connect the character with its meaning of "foam" or "froth".
• Stroke Practice: Start with the "氵" radical on the left, then add the "末" part on the right, making sure the top horizontal line of "末" is the longest.
• Mnemonic Device: Imagine bubbles forming at the surface ("末") of water ("氵") to remember that "沫" means foam or froth.