抹

mā, mǒ, mò

扌 + 末

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

mā (verb) to wipe

mǒ (verb) to smear; to wipe; to erase

mò (verb) to plaster; to go around

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 末 represents the sound.

Semantic: 扌 Phonetic: 末

About

抹 is a phono-semantic compound. The left component 扌 (a reduced form of 手 'hand') indicates an action performed with the hand, while the right component 末 (mò) provides the sound and originally meant 'tip of a branch'. Its primary meaning involves wiping, smearing, applying, or rubbing a substance onto a surface, as in spreading mortar on a wall or applying cosmetics to a face. Depending on its pronunciation and context, it can also mean crossing out, erasing, or removing something entirely, similar to wiping a surface clean. The combination of the hand radical and the phonetic captures the sweeping or rubbing motion common to both applying and wiping away.

Etymology Hide

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我用抹布擦桌子。

Wǒ yòng mā bù cā zhuōzi.

I use a cloth to wipe the table.

他在墙上涂抹颜料。

Tā zài qiáng shàng tú mǒ yán liào.

He is smearing paint on the wall.

请抹掉黑板上的字。

Qǐng mǒ diào hēibǎn shàng de zì.

Please erase the words on the blackboard.

我喜欢喝抹茶拿铁。

Wǒ xǐhuān hē mǒ chá ná tiě.

I like to drink matcha latte.

我们不能抹杀他的功劳。

Wǒmen bù néng mǒ shā tā de gōngláo.

We cannot obliterate his contributions.

不要抹黑别人的名声。

Bùyào mǒ hēi biérén de míngshēng.

Do not smear others' reputation.

时间抹不去美好的回忆。

Shíjiān mǒ bù qù měihǎo de huíyì.

Time cannot wipe away beautiful memories.

她用精致的抹刀涂抹奶油。

Tā yòng jīngzhì de mǒ dāo tú mǒ nǎiyóu.

She uses a fine spatula to spread cream.

Related Characters

Component: 扌

Component: 末

抹