募

mù

力 + 莫

Definitions

mù (verb) to recruit; to enlist

mù (verb) to raise; to collect (funds or donations)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 力 represents the meaning and 莫 represents the sound.

Semantic: 力 Phonetic: 莫

About

募 is a phonosemantic compound: the bottom component 力 conveys strength and physical exertion, pointing to effort or labor, while the top component 莫 supplies the sound. In its early uses, it described the summoning or enlisting of people for military campaigns or large-scale construction projects, tasks that naturally required physical power and coordinated action. Over the centuries, its meaning broadened beyond mobilizing manpower to gathering resources, particularly soliciting funds, collecting donations, or procuring supplies for a dedicated cause.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

公司正在招募新员工。

Gōngsī zhèngzài zhāomù xīn yuángōng.

The company is recruiting new employees.

我们为灾区募捐了不少钱。

Wǒmen wèi zāiqū mùjuān le bùshǎo qián.

We raised quite a lot of money for the disaster area.

学校募集了很多课外书。

Xuéxiào mùjí le hěnduō kèwài shū.

The school collected many extracurricular books.

这次活动主要募的是旧衣物。

Zhè cì huódòng zhǔyào mù de shì jiù yīwù.

This event is mainly collecting used clothing.

他们发起募款活动来帮助贫困学生。

Tāmen fāqǐ mùkuǎn huódòng lái bāngzhù pínkùn xuéshēng.

They launched a fundraising campaign to help students in need.

志愿者在街头为环保项目募资。

Zhìyuànzhě zài jiētóu wèi huánbǎo xiàngmù mùzī.

Volunteers are raising funds on the street for an environmental project.

该基金会公开募集的资金使用很透明。

Gāi jījīnhuì gōngkāi mùjí de zījīn shǐyòng hěn tòumíng.

The use of funds publicly raised by this foundation is very transparent.

为了扩建图书馆，他们制定了一个详细的募捐计划。

Wèile kuòjiàn túshūguǎn, tāmen zhìdìng le yīgè xiángxì de mùjuān jìhuà.

In order to expand the library, they formulated a detailed donation-raising plan.

Related Characters

Component: 力

Component: 莫

募