() — grave, tomb, mausoleum

Definition

A formal word for a tomb, usually a built or structured one — think ancient or grand burials like 墓 or 公墓, rather than the everyday 坟 (a simple mound grave).

noun
gravetombmausoleum
Measure word ·

Examples

  • Zhè zuò mù shì gǔ dài huáng dì de.
    This tomb belongs to an ancient emperor.
  • Tā men měi nián dōu qù mù qián jì bài.
    They go to the grave every year to pay respects.
  • Kǎo gǔ xué jiā fā xiàn le yí zuò gǔ mù.
    Archaeologists discovered an ancient tomb.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
Same sound today

墓 combines 土 (earth) and 莫 (sound).

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