貌

mào

皃 + 豸

Definitions

mào (noun) appearance; looks; expression

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 皃 represents the meaning and a remnant of 豹 represents the sound.

About

貌 is a phonosemantic compound: 皃 on the right means 'appearance', while the left side 豸 is a remnant of 豹 ('leopard') serving as a phonetic. Though 豸 commonly denotes beasts, here it hints at the pronunciation. The character originally designated human facial features and outward demeanor, then expanded to the general surface or exterior of anything, often contrasted with internal reality.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他非常有礼貌。

Tā fēicháng yǒu lǐmào.

He is very polite.

城市面貌变化大。

Chéngshì miànmào biànhuà dà.

The city's appearance has changed greatly.

她的外貌很吸引人。

Tā de wàimào hěn xīyǐn rén.

Her appearance is very attractive.

他的容貌很英俊。

Tā de róngmào hěn yīngjùn.

His looks are very handsome.

相貌不能决定一切。

Xiàngmào bù néng juédìng yīqiè.

Appearance cannot decide everything.

她不仅貌美而且善良。

Tā bùjǐn màoměi érqiě shànliáng.

She is not only beautiful but also kind.

他貌似很冷静的样子。

Tā màosì hěn lěngjìng de yàngzi.

He seems very calm.

这个地方的地貌很独特。

Zhège dìfāng de dìmào hěn dútè.

The topography of this place is very unique.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 皃

Example Words