Definition
莫名 is a stative verb meaning 'indescribable' or 'inexpressible' — it describes a feeling or quality that cannot be put into words. It is most commonly used in the fixed phrase 莫名其妙 (mò míng qí miào, 'baffling / without rhyme or reason'), but can also appear alone before nouns like 恐惧 (fear) or 悲伤 (sadness) to mean 'a nameless / inexplicable kind of...'. As an s.v., it can be modified by degree adverbs like 很 or 十分.
s.v.
indescribableinexplicablenameless (of a feeling or quality)
Examples
- 莫名。Tā xīnli yǒng qǐ yì zhǒng mò míng de kǒngjù.A nameless fear welled up in her heart.
- ,莫名。Tīngdào zhège xiāoxi, tā gǎndào mò míng de bēishāng.Upon hearing the news, he felt an inexplicable sadness.
- 莫名。Nà zhǒng mò míng de xīyǐnlì ràng wǒ wúfǎ líkāi.That indescribable attraction made it impossible for me to leave.
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