睦 (mù) — (bound form) harmonious, harmony
Definition
睦 is a bound form meaning 'harmonious' — it does not stand alone; it always appears in compounds like 和睦 (harmonious) or 睦邻 (good-neighborly). Use it for relationships between people, families, or nations.
bound form
harmoniousharmony
Easily confused
- 木mùsound-alike(bound form) wood; tree; timber
- 幕mùsound-alike(classifier) act (of a play, opera, or stage performance)
- 目mùsound-alike(bound form) eye: used in compounds related to vision or the eye (目光, 目前)
- 墓mùsound-alikegrave, tomb, mausoleum
- 穆mùsound-alikerespectful, solemn, dignified (bound form)
- 慕mùsound-alike(bound form) to admire, to have great respect for
Examples
- 。Jiā tíng hé mù hěn zhòng yào.Family harmony is very important.
- 。Liǎng guó yì zhí bǎo chí mù lín yǒu hǎo guān xì.The two countries have always maintained a good-neighbourly and friendly relationship.
- 。Tā men yì jiā rén xiāng chǔ dé hěn hé mù.Their family gets along very harmoniously.
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.
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.
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