Learn a Chinese Character - 墨

1. Character Basics

Radical: 土 (earth radical, representing earth, soil, or land-related concepts)

Stroke Count: 15 strokes

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: mò (Fourth tone)

3. Meaning

Meanings of 墨 (mò): ink; Chinese ink stick; black; ink-brush; inkstone; ink painting; ink calligraphy; writing; painting; scholar; literati; dark; black pigment; ink material; carbon-based ink; ink preparation; traditional ink; ink culture; ink art; ink craft

4. Common Words

• 墨水 (mò shuǐ) - Ink; liquid ink for writing or printing
• 墨汁 (mò zhī) - Ink; ink solution, especially for brush painting
• 墨迹 (mò jì) - Ink marks; traces of ink; handwriting
• 墨镜 (mò jìng) - Sunglasses; dark glasses
• 墨绿 (mò lǜ) - Dark green; deep green color
• 墨客 (mò kè) - Scholars; literati; people engaged in literary or artistic pursuits
• 墨守成规 (mò shǒu chéng guī) - Stick to old rules; be conservative
• 墨斗鱼 (mò dǒu yú) - Cuttlefish; a type of marine animal

5. Grammar & Usage

The character 墨 (mò) is primarily used as a noun referring to "ink" or "black" in Chinese. It can also be used as an adjective to describe something as "black" or "dark".

• Noun Usage: Referring to ink or ink-related items, such as ink sticks, ink stones, or ink itself.
• Adjective Usage: Describing something as black or dark in color.
• Compound Words: Forming compound words related to ink, writing, painting, or darkness.
• Idiomatic Expressions: Used in idioms and set phrases, often related to traditional Chinese culture or literary pursuits.
• Cultural References: Making cultural references to Chinese calligraphy, painting, or scholarly traditions.

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, 墨 (mò) holds profound significance as one of the "Four Treasures of the Study" (文房四宝 wén fáng sì bǎo), along with brush, paper, and inkstone. Traditional Chinese ink is made from pine soot or lampblack mixed with animal glue and has been used for thousands of years in calligraphy and painting.

墨 (mò) also symbolizes scholarship, culture, and artistic refinement. In ancient times, scholars and artists would grind ink sticks on inkstones to prepare ink for writing or painting, a process that was considered both practical and meditative.

The character 墨 (mò) is often associated with qualities like elegance, depth, and permanence. It appears in many Chinese idioms and literary expressions related to learning, creativity, and cultural heritage.

In contemporary usage, 墨 (mò) continues to be linked to traditional arts while also being used in modern contexts, such as printing inks and digital inks, bridging ancient traditions with modern technology.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character 墨 (mò) has 15 strokes and consists of 土 (tǔ, earth) at the bottom and a complex top part.

• Structure Analysis: The character 墨 (mò) can be broken down into 土 (tǔ, earth) at the bottom, suggesting its original meaning might be related to ground or soil where ink materials come from.
• Sound Association: The pronunciation "mò" (fourth tone) sounds similar to the English word "mole", which is small and dark, like a spot of ink.
• Meaning Connection: Visualize a traditional Chinese ink stick or ink stone, which are essential tools for calligraphy and painting.
• Character Components: Remember that 墨 (mò) contains 土 (earth) at the bottom, which connects to the idea of ink being made from natural materials like soot or carbon.
• Memory Rhyme: "墨有土在下，十五笔写成，黑色墨水用，书法绘画它。" (Mò yǒu tǔ zài xià, shí wǔ bǐ xiě chéng, hēi sè mò shuǐ yòng, shū fǎ huì huà tā.) This rhyme helps remember the structure, stroke count, and usage of the character.