Learn a Chinese Character - 亩

1. Character Basics

Radical: 田 (field, farmland)

Stroke Count: 7 strokes

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: mǔ (Third tone)

3. Meaning

mu (unit of area equal to 666.67 square meters); Chinese acre; farmland measurement; field size; cultivated land unit; agricultural land measure; land area; plot size; cultivated plot; rural land unit; agricultural acreage; planting area; farming land measure; field measurement; cropland unit; agricultural unit; rural acreage; land division; planting space; agricultural plot

4. Common Words

• 亩产量 (mǔ chǎn liàng) - per mu yield; the amount of crops produced per mu of land
• 亩地 (mǔ dì) - mu of land; a unit of agricultural land measurement
• 千亩 (qiān mǔ) - one thousand mu; a large area of farmland
• 亩产 (mǔ chǎn) - yield per mu; the productivity of land measured by mu
• 亩均 (mǔ jūn) - average per mu; calculated on a per mu basis
• 亩税 (mǔ shuì) - land tax per mu; tax levied on agricultural land by the mu
• 亩产值 (mǔ chǎn zhí) - output value per mu; economic value produced per mu of land
• 一亩三分地 (yī mǔ sān fēn dì) - one's own territory; one's own sphere of influence; a metaphor for one's personal domain

5. Grammar & Usage

The character "亩" (mǔ) primarily functions as a unit of measurement for land area in Chinese. It is most commonly used in agricultural contexts and when referring to land ownership or usage. Here are the key grammatical patterns:

• Unit of Measurement: Used as a quantifier for land area, typically preceded by a numeral (e.g., "一亩地" - one mu of land).
• Compound Words: Frequently appears in compound words related to agriculture, land management, and rural economics.
• Subject/Object Position: Can be the subject or object in sentences discussing land area or agricultural productivity.
• Modifiers: Often modified by adjectives or adverbs describing land quality or productivity (e.g., "高产亩" - high-yield mu).
• Idiomatic Expressions: Used in idioms like "一亩三分地" to metaphorically refer to one's personal domain or area of expertise.

6. Cultural Background

The character "亩" (mǔ) holds significant cultural importance in Chinese history, particularly in relation to agriculture, land ownership, and rural society. As a traditional unit of land measurement, it has been central to Chinese agricultural practices for thousands of years.

In ancient China, the "亩" was not only a measurement but also a basis for taxation, land distribution, and social structure. The well-field system (井田制), which emerged during the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BCE), divided agricultural land into nine parts, with eight families each cultivating one mu and collectively farming the ninth mu for the government.

The concept of "亩" extends beyond mere measurement to symbolize rural life, agricultural heritage, and the connection between people and the land. It frequently appears in Chinese poetry, proverbs, and folk traditions that celebrate farming and the countryside.

Even in modern China, where metric units are also used, the "亩" remains the primary unit for measuring agricultural land. It continues to shape rural identity and is an important part of China's agricultural policies and land management systems.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character "亩" has 7 strokes and is composed of the radical "田" (field) at the bottom and "亠" and "丶" on top. Here are some tips to help you remember it:

• Structure Analysis: "亩" combines "田" (field) with elements that historically represented measurement or division of land.
• Sound Association: The pronunciation "mǔ" sounds similar to "母" (mother), but with a different tone.
• Meaning Connection: Visualize a farmer measuring out a plot of land with a traditional measuring tool.
• Character Components: Break it down into "亠" (lid), "丶" (dot), and "田" (field) to remember the stroke order.
• Memory Mnemonic: Imagine a "mother" (sounds like "mǔ") working in the "field" (田) to remember both the pronunciation and meaning.