冒

• Pinyin: mào
• Hanzi breakdown: 冒 = 冃 (cover) + 目 (eye), covering the eyes, extended to braving or emerging

Meaning

To emit; to risk; to brave. Something emerging or someone taking a risk despite danger.

Has several related meanings: emitting gas, smoke, or steam; taking risks or braving dangers; or impersonating someone. Used in compounds like 冒险 (take risks), 冒充 (impersonate), 冒烟 (emit smoke).

Examples

1. 锅里的水开了，正在冒热气。 The water in the pot is boiling and emitting hot steam.
2. 消防员冒着生命危险冲进火场救人。 The firefighters risked their lives rushing into the fire to save people.
3. 他冒充记者混进了现场。 He impersonated a journalist and sneaked into the scene.

Usage Guide

Context: risk, emission, impersonation

Tone: action-oriented

Do Say

• 他冒着大雨赶来参加会议。(He braved the heavy rain to come to the meeting.)
• 烟囱在冒黑烟。(The chimney is emitting black smoke.)

Don't Say

• 我冒了一个问题。(For asking questions, use 提 — 冒 doesn't work with questions)

Origin & History

冒 shows a covering (冃) over an eye (目), originally meaning to cover or obscure, later extended to emerging through or braving.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal