Chinese word

墨

Pronunciation

Pinyinmò

Meaning

  • nounink

Example

这幅画是用墨画的。zhè fú huà shì yòng mò huà de

This picture is painted with ink.

Illustration for 墨 (ink)

More examples

孩子不小心把衣服弄上了墨迹。hái zi bù xiǎo xīn bǎ yī fú nòng shàng le mò jì

The child accidentally got an ink mark on their clothes.

Core concept

A dark brush medium that turns from a solid bar into flowing liquid and makes lines or washes of different strength.

Common phrases

  • 墨汁mò zhī

    ink

  • 水墨画shuǐ mò huà

    ink wash painting

  • 墨迹mò jì

    ink mark

Similar words

墨汁mò zhī: Black liquid ink ready for use in brush calligraphy and ink painting.
墨水mò shuǐ: General liquid ink for fountain pens, ballpoint pens, and printing machines.
墨棒mò bàng: Solid ink for brushwork, ground with water on an inkstone before use.

Definition in Chinese

用于书写或绘画的一种黑色颜料，可指固体的墨块或研磨成的墨汁，传统上由松烟或煤与胶等制成，用于毛笔书画以表现黑色及其浓淡。yòng yú shū xiě huò huì huà de yì zhǒng hēi sè yán liào kě zhǐ gù tǐ de mò kuài huò yán mó chéng de mò zhī chuán tǒng shàng yóu sōng yān huò méi yǔ jiāo děng zhì chéng yòng yú máo bǐ shū huà yǐ biǎo xiàn hēi sè jí qí nóng dàn

Word origin

The form 墨 (mò, "ink") joins 黑 (hēi, "black") + 土 (tǔ, "earth"), a useful reminder of the dark solid material ground into liquid for brush writing.

Usage tips

  • English uses ink for pens, printers, and art, but Chinese often specifies the kind with 墨水 (mòshuǐ, "liquid ink") or 墨盒 (mòhé, "ink cartridge"), which makes the intended object clearer.

Related words

  • 墨汁mò zhīinknoun
  • 墨迹mò jìink marknoun
  • 墨粉mò fěnink powdernoun

Word lists with this word