模样

• Pinyin: mú yàng
• Hanzi breakdown: 模 = 木 (wood) + 莫, form; 样 = 木 + 羊, manner or appearance

Meaning

Appearance; look; manner. The way someone or something looks.

Refers to physical appearance or the general state/manner of something. Can describe people, objects, or situations. Often used in phrases like 什么模样 (what does it look like?) or 那个模样 (in that state/manner).

Examples

1. 她小时候的模样和现在完全不一样了。 Her appearance as a child was completely different from now.
2. 看他那副认真的模样，肯定是在准备什么重要的事。 Looking at his serious manner, he must be preparing for something important.
3. 这房子都破成这个模样了，还能住人吗？ This house has deteriorated to this state; can people still live in it?

Usage Guide

Context: description, appearance, everyday

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 你看他那得意的模样！(Look at his smug appearance!)
• 她的模样长得像她妈妈。(Her looks resemble her mother's.)

Don't Say

• 这个模样很美丽。(模样 isn't used with direct adjectives like 美丽 — say 她长得很美丽 or 她的样子很美)

Origin & History

模 (mú, form/model) + 样 (yàng, appearance/manner). Note: 模 is pronounced mú in this word, not mó.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal