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冒昧 (mào mèi) — presumptuous, bold (of behavior or speech); (used adverbially in polite phrases) to take the liberty of doing something

Definition

A self-deprecating word used when asking or doing something that may be rude — often in polite requests. 大胆 is neutral-bold in praise or blame; 冒昧 is the speaker apologizing for overstepping.

adjective
presumptuousbold (of behavior or speech)(used adverbially in polite phrases) to take the liberty of doing something

Examples

  • 冒昧。
    Qǐng yǔn xǔ wǒ mào mèi dì wèn yí gè wèn tí.
    Please allow me to take the liberty of asking a question.
  • 冒昧，。
    mào mèi Dì dǎ rǎo nín, zhēn shì bù hǎo yì si.
    I'm sorry to take the liberty of disturbing you.
  • 冒昧，。
    Qǐng yuán liàng wǒ de mào mèi, dàn wǒ bì xū shuō chū zhēn xiàng.
    Please forgive my presumption, but I must speak the truth.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

冒màorash
昧mèiignorant

冒 suggests acting without due caution and 昧 suggests being unaware of propriety, so together they mean presumptuous.

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
目目mùeyes
Sound part声符shēngfú
冃
冃mào冒mào
Same sound today

冒 was built from 冃, a hat used for the sound, plus 目, eyes, as the meaning part.

Open 冒 →

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
日日rìsun; day
Sound part声符shēngfú
未
未wèi昧mèi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape 昧 combines 日 (sun; day) with 未, which gives a clue to its sound.

Open 昧 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Greetings & Politeness

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