陌

mò
百 + 阝

Definitions

mò (noun) raised path; street

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 阝 represents the meaning and 百 represents the sound.

About

陌 is a phono-semantic compound: the left radical 阝, meaning 'mound' or 'hill,' points to land and terrain, while the right component 百 (bǎi, 'hundred') indicates the pronunciation. Originally, it referred to a raised east-west path between fields, serving as a boundary to divide farmland. Over time, it came to mean any road or street in a settlement, and also took on the sense of 'unfamiliar' or 'strange,' commonly used in words for strangers and unfamiliar situations.

Example Sentences Hide

我对这个城市很陌生。

Wǒ duì zhège chéngshì hěn mòshēng.

I am very unfamiliar with this city.

这里的环境让我感到陌生。

Zhèlǐ de huánjìng ràng wǒ gǎndào mòshēng.

The environment here makes me feel unfamiliar.

他们从此成为陌路。

Tāmen cóngcǐ chéngwéi mòlù.

They have become strangers from now on.

我走在乡村的阡陌上。

Wǒ zǒu zài xiāngcūn de qiānmò shàng.

I walk on the paths in the countryside.

面对陌生的工作，他有些紧张。

Miànduì mòshēng de gōngzuò, tā yǒuxiē jǐnzhāng.

Facing unfamiliar work, he is a bit nervous.

互联网让世界不再陌生。

Hùliánwǎng ràng shìjiè bù zài mòshēng.

The internet makes the world no longer unfamiliar.

虽然这个地方我很陌生，但我很快适应了。

Suīrán zhège dìfāng wǒ hěn mòshēng, dàn wǒ hěn kuài shìyìng le.

Although I am very unfamiliar with this place, I adapted quickly.

在人生的陌路上，我们总会遇到新的朋友。

Zài rénshēng de mòlù shàng, wǒmen zǒng huì yùdào xīn de péngyou.

On the unfamiliar roads of life, we always meet new friends.

Related Characters

Component: 百

弼 佰 貊 兡 凮 栢 瓸 皕 竡 粨

Component: 阝

那 都 部 队 院 际 除 阿 随 陈 防 限 阳 险

Example Words

陌生 陌生人 陌陌 陌路 陌路人