抹 meaning and stroke order
To smear; to wipe; to erase
How to write 抹, stroke by stroke
8 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
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- 7
- 8
Meaning of 抹
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to smear
- to wipe
- to erase
- classifier for wisps of cloud, light-beams etc
- to wipe
- to plaster
- to go around
- to skirt
How 抹 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hand.
扌 gives the meaning and 末 hints at the sound.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 抹
抹 is a hand 扌 plus 末 (mò), which gives the sound. Picture your hand rubbing something on or off a surface, smearing cream or wiping a stain away.
As mǒ it means to smear, apply, or erase, as in 抹药 (mǒ yào, apply ointment) or 抹黑 (mǒhēi, to defame). As mā it means to wipe, mainly in 抹布 (mābù, cleaning rag). Example: 她在脸上抹了点儿霜。(Tā zài liǎn shang mǒ le diǎnr shuāng.) She put a little cream on her face.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 抹 with 沫 (mò, foam), which has the water radical 氵 instead of the hand 扌. Also, 末 has a longer top horizontal stroke than 未 (wèi), so do not write the right side as 未.
Common words with 抹
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
抹 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 抹
How many strokes are in 抹?
抹 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 抹 mean?
抹 (mǒ) means to smear; to wipe; to erase. A common word with it is 抹布 (mābù), meaning "cleaning rag; also pr. [mo3 bu4]".
How do you pronounce 抹?
抹 is pronounced mǒ, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 抹?
The radical of 抹 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 抹 under this radical.
Is 抹 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 抹 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
How do I know whether to read 抹 as mǒ, mā, or mò?
Use mǒ for most meanings: smear, apply, erase. Use mā for wiping with a cloth, especially in 抹布 (mābù). Use mò for plastering or skirting around, as in 拐弯抹角 (guǎiwānmòjiǎo).
How is 抹 used as a measure word?
In written or literary Chinese, 抹 (mǒ) counts thin streaks of light, color, or cloud. Example: 一抹晚霞 (yì mǒ wǎnxiá), a streak of sunset glow. It is also common in 一抹微笑 (yì mǒ wēixiào), a faint smile.