抹掉 (mǒ diào) — to erase, to wipe away, to efface | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A transitive verb meaning to erase or wipe something away, often traces, marks, or memories. Often takes a 把 construction (把这些字抹掉) and pairs with 干净 or 彻底 to emphasize complete removal.

verb

to eraseto wipe awayto efface

Examples

抹掉。
Qǐng bǎ zhè xiē zì mǒ diào.
Please erase these characters.
抹掉。
Tā yòng bù mǒ diào le zhuō shàng de shuǐ.
He wiped away the water on the table with a cloth.
抹掉。
Nà duàn jì yì bèi chè dǐ mǒ diào le.
That memory has been completely erased.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

抹 wipes, and 掉 shows the erased mark comes off.

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.

扌末抹

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒu

Sound part声符shēngfú

末

末mò抹mǒ

Same sound today

The left part 扌 is the hand component 手, showing an action done with the hand; the right part 末 gives the pronunciation.

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

扌卓掉

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

卓

卓zhuó掉diào

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

掉 is built from 扌 (a hand) and 卓, which gives the pronunciation.

Appears in

Cleaning & Chores

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.