Meaning
hair; pore; fur
Chinese: 毛发、粗糙，也作很小的货币单位。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “mao” becomes a different word in each tone. 毛 is the 2nd tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.
Stroke Order
Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.
Common Words
- 毛病máo bìngfault; defect; shortcomings; ailment
- 羽毛球yǔ máo qiúbadminton; shuttlecock
- 毛衣máo yī(wool) sweater
- 毛巾máo jīntowel
- 眉毛méi maoeyebrow
Example Sentence
这只小猫的毛又软又白。Zhè zhī xiǎo māo de máo yòu ruǎn yòu bái.This kitten fur is soft and white.
这Zhèthis只zhīonly小猫xiǎo māokitten的deof毛máohair又yòuagain软ruǎnsoft又yòuagain白báiBai ethnic group。
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
A pictograph of a tuft of hair or a feather, with the curling end at the bottom. It means ‘hair / fur / feather’.
A way to remember it
A few strands with a curl at the tail — fur.
Easy to confuse with
- 手‘Hand’: nearly the same frame, but the final hook curls the opposite way.