抚摸 (fǔ mō) — to gently stroke, caress, or pet | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

抚摸 (fǔmō) means a slow, gentle, affectionate stroke — usually of a person, pet, or keepsake. Stronger in warmth than the neutral 触摸 ('to touch') and more deliberate than 摸 ('to feel / touch').

verb

to gently strokecaressor pet

Examples

抚摸。
Tā qīng qīng de fǔ mō zhe yīng ér de bèi.
She gently stroked the baby's back.
抚摸。
Tā xǐ huan zài yáng guāng xià fǔ mō zì jǐ de māo.
He likes to pet his cat in the sunshine.
抚摸。
Lǎo rén yòng chàn dǒu de shǒu fǔ mō nà zhāng lǎo zhào piàn.
The old man stroked that old photo with trembling hands.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

抚fǔstroke

'抚' (stroke) and '摸' (touch) together mean to stroke and touch gently.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 撫; 抚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

手手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

無

無wú撫fǔ

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 撫 pairs 手 (hand) with 無 for the sound; the simplified 抚 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical parts.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

手手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

莫

莫mò摸mō

Same sound today

摸 pairs 手 (hand) with 莫; 手 shows the meaning is about a hand action, and 莫 gives the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Senses

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