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和睦 (hé mù) — harmonious; peaceful (of relationships, families, neighbors, etc.)

Definition

和睦 describes an ongoing harmonious relationship between people (family, neighbors). 和谐 is broader — also for society, nature, or objects; 融洽 is more about a warm, comfortable atmosphere between people.

adjective
harmoniouspeaceful (of relationships, families, neighbors, etc.)

Examples

  • 和睦。
    Tā men yì jiā rén xiāng chǔ dé hěn hé mù.
    Their family gets along very harmoniously.
  • 和睦。
    Lín lǐ zhī jiān yīng gāi bǎo chí hé mù guān xì.
    Neighbors should maintain harmonious relations.
  • 和睦，。
    Zhè ge shè qū fēi cháng hé mù, dà jiā hù xiāng bāng zhù.
    This community is very harmonious; everyone helps each other.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

和héharmonious
睦mùfriendly

和 and 睦 both point to friendly, harmonious relations.

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
禾
禾hé和hé
Same sound today

和 pairs 禾, which gives the sound, with 口 (mouth), the meaning part; the reference connects this shape to harmony.

Open 和 →

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
坴
坴lù睦mù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

睦 combines 目, eyes, with 坴, which gives the sound.

Open 睦 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Friends & Social

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