淡漠 (dàn mò) — indifferent, aloof, uninterested; faint, dim, vague (of memory, impression, color)

Definition

Covers two related senses: an emotional 'indifferent, aloof' attitude toward people or things, and a 'faint, dim' quality (memories, impressions, color).

verb
indifferentaloofuninterestedfaintdimvague (of memory, impression, color)

Examples

  • 淡漠。
    Tā duì bié rén de kùn nan hěn dàn mò.
    He is indifferent to other people's difficulties.
  • 淡漠。
    Zhè xiē wǎng shì zài wǒ jì yì zhōng yǐ jīng biàn de hěn dàn mò le.
    These past events have become very faint in my memory.
  • 淡漠。
    Liǎng rén zhī jiān de guān xì yuè lái yuè dàn mò.
    The relationship between the two people is becoming increasingly aloof.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

淡dànfaint; indifferent
漠mòindifferent; vague

淡 and 漠 both suggest a lack of warmth or clarity, giving indifference or faintness.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
炎
炎yán淡dàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

淡 puts 氵 (water) beside 炎, which gives the sound yán.

Open 淡 →

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
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
莫
莫mò漠mò
Same sound today

漠 pairs 水 (water) with 莫 as the sound part. The water part shows the meaning is connected to water.

Open 漠 →

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