穆 (mù) — respectful, solemn, dignified (bound form)
Definition
穆 is a bound form used in literary Chinese to mean 'solemn, reverent' — appearing mainly in words like 肃穆 and 静穆. It is not used as a standalone word.
bound form
respectfulsolemndignified (bound form)
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
- 慕mùsound-alike(bound form) to admire, to have great respect for
- 牧mùsound-aliketo herd, to tend (livestock)
Examples
- 。Jiào táng lǐ qì fen shí fēn sù mù.The atmosphere inside the church was very solemn.
- 穆。Tā de liǎn shàng dài zhe mù rán de biǎo qíng.His face carried a dignified expression.
- 穆，。Líng yuán lǐ yí piàn jìng mù, ràng rén xīn shēng jìng yì.The cemetery was quiet and solemn, inspiring respect.
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
㣎
㣎㣎穆mù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
穆 is built from 禾, grain, with 㣎 added for its sound, giving a picture of standing grain.
Appears in
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