Definitions

(noun) curtain; screen
(noun) act (of a play)
(noun) tent; canopy
(noun) military headquarters

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 幕, structurally formed from the semantic component 巾 meaning cloth and the phonetic element 莫, originally referred to a fabric covering such as a curtain or tent, with early specific use denoting the canopy of a military commander. From this concrete object, its meaning expanded to encompass the stage curtain in theatrical settings, which in turn facilitated a metaphorical extension to represent acts within a drama or analogous segments within historical and narrative frameworks. This progression from a physical separator to an abstract marker of phases maintained the core idea of a veil or division while adapting to broader cultural and conceptual applications.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

展览今天开

Zhǎnlǎn jīntiān kāimù.

The exhibition opens today.

他喜欢看大屏

Tā xǐhuān kàn dà píngmù.

He likes to watch the big screen.

降临了。

Yèmù jiànglín le.

Night has fallen.

他知道事情的内

Tā zhīdào shìqíng de nèimù.

He knows the inside story of the matter.

电影有中文字

Diànyǐng yǒu Zhōngwén zìmù.

The movie has Chinese subtitles.

舞台上的布很漂亮。

Wǔtái shàng de mùbù hěn piàoliang.

The curtain on the stage is very beautiful.

会议将在明天闭

Huìyì jiāng zài míngtiān bìmù.

The conference will close tomorrow.

后工作者很少被关注。

Mùhòu gōngzuò zhě hěn shǎo bèi guānzhù.

Behind-the-scenes workers are rarely noticed.