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坶 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
坶mǔmud, mire; to paste, to plasterx, 8 strokes, radical 土
mǔ(mu3) T3
  1. 1mud, mire; to paste, to plaster
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

坶mǔ(mu3)

The character 坶 (mǔ) primarily refers to mud or mire, often used in contexts related to sticky or wet earth. It can also mean to paste or to plaster, suggesting the action of applying a thick, adhesive substance. This word is less common in everyday use but may appear in specific contexts, such as construction or traditional crafts.

Strokes8Radical土
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese architecture, mud is often used as a building material, reflecting the importance of natural elements in construction techniques. Understanding the role of mud in Chinese culture can provide insights into historical building practices.

Memory Tip

Imagine a muddy landscape where you can feel the sticky mud (坶) under your feet. The '土' (tǔ) radical signifies earth, while the '母' (mǔ) component can remind you of a 'mother' who is nurturing, just as mud nurtures the ground. Together, they create a vivid image of earth and stickiness.

Meanings of 坶

mǔ(mu3)
1mud, mire; to paste, to plaster
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 坶

坶Simplified
8Strokes
土Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 坶

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Podcast: 坶

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AI Study Notes for 坶

Usage Notes

When using 坶, be mindful that it is more commonly found in literary or specialized contexts rather than everyday conversation. Common collocations include phrases related to construction or the arts. Avoid confusion with similar-sounding words; ensure clear pronunciation of the third tone.

HSK Study Tips

Although 坶 is not part of the official HSK levels, it can be related to words at HSK 3 and above that deal with nature and materials. Focus on its usage in specific contexts to enhance vocabulary related to construction, art, and nature.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 坶 with similar characters like 母 (mǔ), which means mother. For example, saying 'mud母' instead of 'mud坶' can lead to misunderstandings. Always check that you're using the correct character based on context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 坶

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Etymology of 坶

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

earth

Semantic (meaning)土
+
Phonetic (sound)母
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 坶

  1. 1The meaning half土 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half母 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayearth
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 坶? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 坶?

Decomposition of 坶

IDS Structure⿰土母
坶Full Character
=
土Tu3
left
母mu3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 坶?

How to say mud, mire; to paste, to plaster in Chinese

“mud, mire; to paste, to plaster” in Chinese is坶mǔ

The character 坶 (mǔ) primarily refers to mud or mire, often used in contexts related to sticky or wet earth. It can also mean to paste or to plaster, suggesting the action of applying a thick, adhesive substance. This word is less common in everyday use but may appear in specific contexts, such as construction or traditional crafts.

When to use 坶

When using 坶, be mindful that it is more commonly found in literary or specialized contexts rather than everyday conversation. Common collocations include phrases related to construction or the arts. Avoid confusion with similar-sounding words; ensure clear pronunciation of the third tone.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 坶 with similar characters like 母 (mǔ), which means mother. For example, saying 'mud母' instead of 'mud坶' can lead to misunderstandings. Always check that you're using the correct character based on context.

Write 坶

坶

Practice writing 坶 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Frequently Asked Questions about 坶

It is pronounced as 'mǔ', with a falling tone.

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