摸

• Pinyin: mō
• Hanzi breakdown: 摸 = 扌(hand) + 莫 (phonetic, meaning 'nothing visible') — feeling for something with the hand

Meaning

To touch; to feel; to stroke. The act of using one's hand to lightly make contact with something.

The core meaning is to use one's hand to feel or stroke a surface. Extended meanings include groping in the dark (摸黑), figuring something out through experience (摸索), and reaching into something to retrieve an item. It implies gentle or exploratory contact, not forceful grabbing.

Examples

1. 小孩子总是喜欢用手摸各种东西。 Little children always like to touch all kinds of things with their hands.
2. 她轻轻地摸了摸小猫的头。 She gently stroked the kitten's head.
3. 他在口袋里摸了半天，才找到钥匙。 He fumbled in his pocket for a long time before finding the key.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, physical actions

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 别摸，油漆还没干呢。(Don't touch — the paint hasn't dried yet.)
• 他摸了摸口袋，发现钱包不见了。(He felt his pocket and realised his wallet was gone.)

Don't Say

• 对陌生人说'让我摸一下' (Don't say 'let me touch' to a stranger — this sounds intrusive and inappropriate)

Origin & History

Originally meant to feel or search for something by hand. The character combines 扌(hand radical) with 莫 (phonetic component), suggesting the action of reaching out to feel for something unseen.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal