抹 (mǒ) — (verb) to apply, to smear (ointment, cream, makeup, etc.); (verb) to wipe away, to erase, to remove; (classifier) for wisps of cloud, light beams, smoke, etc.
Definition
Use 抹 for smearing or wiping off a thin layer (cream, makeup, butter, writing). For rubbing with a cloth or towel to clean/dry, use 擦.
verb
to applyto smear (ointment, cream, makeup, etc.)to wipe awayto eraseto remove
classifier
for wisps of cloudlight beamssmokeetc.
Examples
- 抹。Tā zài miàn bāo shàng mǒ le yī céng huáng yóu.He smeared a layer of butter on the bread.
- 。Tā bǎ hēi bǎn shàng de zì mǒ diào le.He wiped the words off the blackboard.
- 抹。Tiān biān yǒu yì mǒ dàn dàn de yún cai.There is a wisp of faint cloud at the horizon.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
The left part 扌 is the hand component 手, showing an action done with the hand; the right part 末 gives the pronunciation.
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