Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
陌生mòshēng(mo4sheng1)
The word 陌生 (mòshēng) refers to something or someone that is unfamiliar or strange. It is commonly used to express feelings of being in an unfamiliar environment or encountering people you do not know, often evoking a sense of discomfort or curiosity.
Frequency#4385DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese society, the concept of being 陌生 can relate to the importance of community and familiarity; people often feel uncomfortable in unfamiliar places, which highlights the value placed on social connections.
Memory Tip
Imagine walking down a road (陌) where every face you see is strange (生). The character 陌 combines the radical for 'road' with 'life', suggesting a journey where you encounter unfamiliar lives. Think of 'mò' as the 'mo' in 'mysterious' to help remember its meaning.
Meanings of 陌生
mòshēng(mo4sheng1)
1strange
2unfamiliar
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 陌生
陌生Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名形词xíngróngcíadj-noun (adj.-n.)Part of Speech
#4385Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 陌生
Podcast: 陌生
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 陌生
Quick Contrast
生疏 (shēngshū) - use 陌生 for unfamiliarity in people or environments, while 生疏 emphasizes lack of familiarity or skill.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine walking down a road (陌) where every face you see is strange (生). The character 陌 combines the radical for 'road' with 'life', suggesting a journey where you encounter unfamiliar lives. Think of 'mò' as the 'mo' in 'mysterious' to help remember its meaning.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 陌生 with 生疏 (shēngshū), which also means unfamiliar but implies a loss of familiarity over time. 陌生 is more about immediate unfamiliarity, while 生疏 suggests a past connection. It is used in both formal and informal contexts.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 陌生 connects with other words describing experiences or feelings, such as 熟悉 (shúxī, familiar). Focus on using it in sentences describing new experiences or environments to solidify understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese society, the concept of being 陌生 can relate to the importance of community and familiarity; people often feel uncomfortable in unfamiliar places, which highlights the value placed on social connections.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 陌生 with the word 生疏, mistakenly using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我对这个城市生疏' (wǒ duì zhège chéngshì shēngshū) is incorrect; instead, use '我对这个城市陌生'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 陌生
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 陌生 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 陌生 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 陌生
陌生 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
The very notion of price competition is foreign to many schools.
4
如果有陌生人拦你的车，把车窗摇下一点点就行。
rú guǒ yǒu mò shēng rén lán nǐ de chē， ， bǎ chē chuāng yáo xià yī diǎn diǎn jiù。
If a stranger stops you, just wind the window down a fraction.
5
谁也不知道那个神秘陌生人的身世.
shuí yě bù zhī dào nà gè shén mì mò shēng rén de shēn shì.
No one knew the antecedents of the mysterious stranger.
6
那边的陌生人是谁?
nà biān de mò shēng rén shì shuí?
Who is that strange man over there?
7
这只狗对陌生人吠叫.
zhè zhī gǒu duì mò shēng rén fèi jiào.
The dog barks at strangers.
8
他是认路的行家，即使在陌生的环境中也是如此。
tā shì rèn lù de háng jiā， ， jí shǐ zài mò shēng de huán jìng zhōng yě shì rú。
He was an expert at finding his way, even in strange surroundings.
9
他们现在开始意识到那些心地善良的陌生人帮了他们多大的忙。
tā mén xiàn zài kāi shǐ yì shí dào nà xiē xīn dì shàn liáng de mò shēng rén bāng le tā mén duō dà de máng。
They are now realising just how much they owe to kind-hearted strangers.
10
年龄越大，世界对我而言就变得越陌生、越难理解。
nián líng yuè dà， ， shì jiè duì wǒ ér yán jiù biàn dé yuè mò、 shēng 、 yuè nán。
The older I grow, the stranger and less explicable the world appears to me.
Cultural Notes for 陌生
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese society, the concept of being 陌生 can relate to the importance of community and familiarity; people often feel uncomfortable in unfamiliar places, which highlights the value placed on social connections.
Frequently Asked Questions about 陌生
While 见面 means 'to meet' or 'to see someone', 陌生 emphasizes the idea of not knowing that person or being in an unfamiliar situation.
Yes, you can use 陌生 to describe feelings of unfamiliarity or strangeness in a situation, such as feeling 陌生 in a new city.
