牟

móu, mù

厶 + 牛

Definitions

móu (verb) to seek; to obtain

móu (noun) barley

móu (verb) to moo

Etymology

Depicts a cow (牛) with a stroke above to indicate the mooing of a cow. Based on the original meaning "the sound of a cow". The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

Semantic: 牛

About

The character 牟 (móu) combines the cow radical 牛 (niú) at its base, linking it to bovine animals, with the upper component 厶 (sī), which originally depicted breath or vocalization. It first served as an onomatopoeia for an ox’s low, loud moo. Over time, its meaning shifted to an abstract verb: to aggressively seek, acquire, or pursue, often with a negative connotation of exploiting situations for personal gain or usurping power.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Warring States (475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他做生意从不牟利。

Tā zuò shēngyì cóng bù móulì.

He never seeks profit in his business.

我们反对牟取不正当利益。

Wǒmen fǎnduì móuqǔ bù zhèngdàng lìyì.

We oppose gaining improper benefits.

牟先生是这里的负责人。

Móu xiānsheng shì zhèlǐ de fùzérén.

Mr. Mou is the person in charge here.

古代牟氏家族很有名望。

Gǔdài Móu shì jiāzú hěn yǒu míngwàng.

The Mou clan was very prestigious in ancient times.

这种行为是为了牟取私利。

Zhè zhǒng xíngwéi shì wèile móuqǔ sīlì.

This behavior is for the purpose of seeking personal gain.

奸商企图牟取暴利。

Jiānshāng qǐtú móuqǔ bàolì.

Unscrupulous merchants attempt to reap exorbitant profits.

他的动机纯粹是牟利，缺乏道德。

Tā de dòngjī chúncuì shì móulì, quēfá dàodé.

His motive is purely profit-seeking, lacking morality.

这家公司不以牟利为立身之本。

Zhè jiā gōngsī bù yǐ móulì wéi lìshēn zhī běn.

This company does not consider profit-seeking as its foundation for existence.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 厶

Component: 牛

牟