() — to grind; to rub; to polish; to sharpen; to wear down; to consume (time, energy); to while away; to pester; to nag; to keep on at someone

Definition

磨 (mó) is a versatile verb: physically grinding/polishing a surface, figuratively wearing down time or energy, or pestering someone. The 消磨 / 打磨 compounds narrow it to specific senses (wearing away vs. polishing).

verb
to grindto rubto polishto sharpento wear downto consume (time, energy)to while awayto pesterto nagto keep on at someone

Examples

  • Tā měi tiān zǎo chén dōu zài yuàn zi lǐ mó dāo.
    He sharpens his knife in the yard every morning.
  • Bié zài zhè lǐ mó shí jiān le, kuài qù zuò zuò yè.
    Stop killing time here — go do your homework.
  • Zhè hái zi yì zhí mó zhe mā ma yào mǎi wán jù.
    The child kept pestering his mother to buy a toy.

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