摩托 (mó tuō) — motor (engine); also short for 摩托车 (motorcycle)

Definition

noun

motor (engine)also short for 摩托车 (motorcycle)

Measure word · 辆

摩托。
Zhè liàng mó tuō shì xīn de.
This motorcycle is new.
摩托，。
Qì chē de mó tuō huài le, xū yào xiū lǐ.
The car's motor is broken and needs repair.
摩托。
Zhè ge mó tuō de zào yīn hěn dà.
This motor is very noisy.

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.

麻手摩

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

麻

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

摩 combines 手 (hand) with 麻; the hand part relates to the meaning, and 麻 gives the sound.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

乇

乇tuō托tuō

Same sound today

托 is built from 手 (hand) and 乇, which gives the sound tuō.

Appears in