摩 meaning and stroke order
To scour, to rub, to grind; friction
How to write 摩, stroke by stroke
15 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 摩
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to rub
- used in 摩挲[ma1 sa5]
How 摩 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hand.
手 gives the meaning and 麻 hints at the sound.
Radical: 手 (hand), shared by 23 characters on this site.
How to remember 摩
摩 is 手 (hand) tucked under 麻 (má, hemp), which also gives the sound. Picture your hand rubbing rough hemp fiber back and forth, and you have mó, to rub.
摩 rarely stands alone in modern Chinese. It mostly appears in words like 按摩 (ànmó, massage), 摩擦 (mócā, friction), and the loanword 摩托车 (mótuōchē, motorcycle). Example: 我想去做个按摩。(Wǒ xiǎng qù zuò ge ànmó.) I want to go get a massage.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 摩 with 磨 (mó, to grind), which has 石 (stone) instead of 手 under 麻. Use 手 for rubbing with the hand, as in 按摩, and 石 for grinding, as in 磨刀 (mó dāo, to sharpen a knife).
Common words with 摩
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 按摩 | ànmó | massage; to massage | HSK 5 |
| 摩托 | mótuō | (loanword) motor; (loanword) motorbike; motorcycle (abbr. for 摩托車|摩托车[mo2 tuo1 che1]) | HSK 5 |
| 摩擦 | mócā | friction; rubbing | HSK 5 |
| 揣摩 | chuǎimó | to analyze; to try to figure out | HSK 7-9 |
| 观摩 | guānmó | to observe and emulate; to study (esp. following sb's example) | HSK 7-9 |
| 摩托车 | mótuōchē | (loanword) motorbike; motorcycle | |
| 摩尔 | Mó'ěr | mole (chemistry) | |
| 按摩师 | ànmóshī | masseur; massage therapist | |
| 摩天大楼 | mótiāndàlóu | skyscraper | |
| 摩卡 | mókǎ | mocha (loanword) | |
| 摩登 | módēng | modern (loanword); fashionable | |
| 摩天轮 | mótiānlún | Ferris wheel; observation wheel |
摩 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 摩
How many strokes are in 摩?
摩 is written with 15 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 摩 mean?
摩 (mó) means to scour, to rub, to grind; friction. A common word with it is 按摩 (ànmó), meaning "massage; to massage".
How do you pronounce 摩?
摩 is pronounced mó, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 摩?
The radical of 摩 is 手, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 摩 under this radical.
Is 摩 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 摩 is part of the HSK 5 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
When is 摩 pronounced mā instead of mó?
Only in the word 摩挲 (māsa), meaning to gently stroke or smooth something with your hand. Everywhere else, including 按摩 and 摩托车, it is mó.
Does 摩擦 only mean physical friction?
No. 摩擦 (mócā) can also mean friction between people or countries, a minor conflict or clash. For example, 他们之间有点摩擦 means they have some friction between them.