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磨损 (mó sǔn) — to wear out, to become worn through friction or use

Definition

磨损 (mósǔn) means physical wear from friction or use — the material is wearing out. Unlike 累 (tired) it describes objects, not people; unlike 消磨 it focuses on physical damage, not time or patience.

verb
to wear out, to become worn through friction or use

Examples

  • 磨损。
    Zhè tiáo kù zi yǐ jīng mó sǔn le yí gè dòng.
    This pair of pants has worn a hole.
  • 磨损。
    Mù dì bǎn cháng qī shǐ yòng hòu huì mó sǔn.
    Wooden floors will wear down after long-term use.
  • 磨损。
    Dāo piàn yòng jiǔ le jiù huì mó sǔn biàn dùn.
    Blades become dull from wear after prolonged use.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

磨mówear
损sǔndamage

磨 describes rubbing or wearing, and 损 gives the outcome: damage from use.

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
石石shírock
Sound part声符shēngfú
靡
靡mí磨mó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

磨 combines 石, showing rock, with 靡 for the sound.

Open 磨 →

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 損; 损 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
員
員yuán損sǔn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 損 pairs 手 (hand) with 員 as a sound part; the simplified 损 is a later shorthand, so its visible parts are not the original components.

Open 损 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Change & Process

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