按摩 (àn mó) — to massage

Definition

按摩 (ànmó) is the standard word for a full massage — pressing and rubbing the body to relax muscles. Unlike 揉, which is a simple rubbing/kneading action, 按摩 implies a deliberate therapeutic or relaxation session.

verb
to massage

Examples

  • 按摩。
    Wǒ qǐng shī fu àn mó yí xià jiān bǎng.
    I asked the master to massage my shoulders a bit.
  • 按摩。
    Tā měi tiān gěi mā ma àn mó bàn xiǎo shí.
    She massages her mother for half an hour every day.
  • 按摩。
    Yùn dòng hòu àn mó kě yǐ fàng sōng jī ròu.
    Massaging after exercise can relax the muscles.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

按ànpress
摩mórub

The pressing part and the rubbing part combine to describe the massage action.

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
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
安
安ān按àn
Same sound today

按 has 扌, the hand radical, and 安. The hand part points to an action done with the hand, while 安 supplies the sound and the idea of being at ease, linked to pressing down.

Open 按 →

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
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
麻
麻má摩mó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

摩 combines 手 (hand) with 麻; the hand part relates to the meaning, and 麻 gives the sound.

Open 摩 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Medicine & Treatment5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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