莫若 (mò rě) — (conjunction) would be better to; might as well (suggesting a preferable alternative)

Definition

A literary conjunction meaning 'it would be better to / might as well' — almost always paired with 与其 ('rather than') to contrast a less preferred action with a better one.

conjunction
would be better tomight as well (suggesting a preferable alternative)

Examples

  • ，莫若。
    Yǔ qí làng fèi shí jiān, mò rě zǎo diǎn kāi shǐ.
    Rather than waste time, it would be better to start early.
  • ，莫若。
    Jì rán nǐ bù xǐ huan, mò rě huàn yí gè.
    Since you don't like it, you might as well change it.
  • ，莫若。
    Yǔ qí bào yuàn, mò rě xiǎng bàn fǎ jiě jué.
    Rather than complain, it would be better to find a way to solve it.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

莫mònothing
若ruòlike

Nothing is like it, so this alternative is better.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 莫 shows a sun sinking into bushes, meaning dusk.

Open 莫 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

若 began as a picture of a person combing their hair, associated with obedience.

Open 若 →

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