Chinese word

抹

Pronunciation

Pinyinmā

Meaning

  • verbwipe

Example

他用毛巾抹桌子。tā yòng máo jīn mā zhuō zi

He wiped the table with a towel.

Illustration for 抹 (wipe)

More examples

他用纸巾抹汗。tā yòng zhǐ jīn mǒ hàn

He wiped his sweat with a tissue.

Core concept

The hand works on the top layer of something, either clearing it away or laying a thin substance across it.

Common phrases

  • 抹汗mǒ hàn

    wipe away sweat

  • 抹嘴mó zuǐ

    wipe one's mouth

  • 抹掉mǒ diào

    wipe off

Similar words

擦cā: Rub dirt or moisture off a surface using a hand or cloth.
涂tú: Apply a soft substance by spreading it across a surface.
擦掉cā diào: Remove a mark or dirt by rubbing it away.

Definition in Chinese

用手或布在物体表面擦拭以去除污渍或水分。yòng shǒu huò bù zài wù tǐ biǎo miàn cā shì yǐ qù chú wū zì huò shuǐ fèn

Word origin

In 抹 (mā, "wipe"), 扌 (shǒu, "hand") identifies a physical hand action and 末 (mò, "end") serves as the sound component, while the meaning develops around contact with a surface.

Usage tips

  • English wipe usually suggests cleaning with a cloth, but this Chinese verb can also describe removing a mark or applying a substance, making the object especially important for interpreting it.

Other meanings

  • applyverb
  • eraseverb
  • rubverb

Opposites

  • 弄脏nòng zāngdirtyverb
  • 沾染zhān rǎnstainverb

Related words

  • 抹布mā bùragnoun
  • 抹掉mǒ diàowipe offverb
  • 抹去mǒ qùeraseverb

Word lists with this word