Learn a Chinese Character - 莫

1. Character Basics

Radical: 艹 (grass radical, representing plants or vegetation)

Stroke Count: 10 strokes

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: mò (Fourth tone)

3. Meaning

Do not; must not; no; not; none; nothing; do not have; cannot; must not; it is not allowed; never; neither; nor; without; lack; non-; un-; negative prefix; end; dusk; evening; darkness; black; name of a Chinese state during the Zhou Dynasty; surname Mo

4. Common Words

• 莫非 (mò fēi) - Could it be that...? (used to express doubt or speculation)
• 莫不 (mò bù) - There is no one who doesn't...; everyone (used to indicate universality)
• 莫名其妙 (mò míng qí miào) - Be unable to make head or tail of it; puzzling; incomprehensible
• 莫大 (mò dà) - Great; enormous; tremendous (used to emphasize the degree of something)
• 莫如 (mò rú) - It would be better to...; might as well; more advisable to
• 莫逆 (mò nì) - Very close; intimate (used to describe a close friendship)
• 莫衷一是 (mò zhōng yī shì) - Unable to reach a consensus; divided opinion; no agreement among people
• 莫忘 (mò wàng) - Don't forget; never forget; remember always

5. Grammar & Usage

The character "莫" (mò) primarily functions as a negative adverb meaning "do not" or "must not" in modern Chinese. It is also used in literary and classical contexts to mean "nothing", "none", or "no one". In some cases, it can serve as a noun referring to "dusk" or "darkness".

• Negative Adverb: Used to express prohibition or negation, similar to "do not" or "must not" in English. Example: "请勿触摸" (qǐng wù chù mō) - Please do not touch.
• Rhetorical Question Marker: When used in rhetorical questions, it often implies a negative answer. Example: "莫非你不知道？" (mò fēi nǐ bù zhī dào?) - Could it be that you don't know? (Implying "You should know")
• Classical Negative Pronoun: In classical Chinese, it can mean "none", "no one", or "nothing". Example: "莫我知也" (mò wǒ zhī yě) - No one understands me.
• Fixed Phrases: Commonly used in set phrases and idioms with specific meanings. Example: "莫名其妙" (mò míng qí miào) - Puzzling; incomprehensible.
• Adjective Prefix: In some cases, it can function as a negative prefix similar to "non-" or "un-" in English. Example: "莫逆之交" (mò nì zhī jiāo) - A close friendship (literally "a friendship without conflict")

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, the character "莫" (mò) carries rich cultural connotations spanning from ancient philosophy to everyday language. Originally meaning "dusk" or "evening" in its pictographic form, which depicted the sun setting behind grass, it later evolved to include negative meanings, reflecting the Chinese cultural tendency to associate darkness with absence or negation.

In classical Chinese philosophy, "莫" is often used in Daoist texts to express the concept of the inexpressible or the nameless, as seen in the famous opening lines of Laozi's Dao De Jing: "道可道，非常道；名可名，非常名。无名天地之始，有名万物之母。" (The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name. The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth; the named is the mother of all things.)

The character also appears in many traditional Chinese idioms (chengyu) that reflect cultural values. For example, "莫逆之交" (mò nì zhī jiāo) describes a deep friendship without conflict, emphasizing harmony and mutual understanding—core values in Chinese social relationships. Another idiom, "莫衷一是" (mò zhōng yī shì), highlights the Chinese appreciation for consensus and collective agreement.

In modern Chinese culture, "莫" continues to be widely used in proverbs, poetry, and everyday language, maintaining its dual role as both a negation and a connection to China's rich literary and philosophical heritage.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character "莫" (mò) has 10 strokes and is composed of the radical "艹" (grass radical) on top and "日" (sun) at the bottom. Its original meaning was "dusk" or "evening", representing the sun setting behind grass.

• Structure Analysis: Think of "莫" as "the sun (日) setting below the grass (艹)", which directly relates to its original meaning of "dusk" or "darkness".
• Sound Association: The pronunciation "mò" rhymes with "末" (end), which connects to its meaning of "dusk" (the end of the day).
• Meaning Connection: From its original meaning of "dusk", which is the time when light fades, it evolved to mean "no" or "not" - something that is absent or fades away.
• Character Evolution: The character developed from a pictograph of the sun setting behind grass to its current form. Visualizing this evolution can help with memorization.
• Memory Phrase: "莫是日落草下藏，否定之意由此生" (Mò shì rì luò cǎo xià cáng, fǒu dìng zhī yì yóu cǐ shēng) - "莫 means the sun hiding under grass, from which the meaning of negation arises".