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March 24, 2026
目睹mùdǔ(mu4du3)
目睹 (mùdǔ) means to witness or see something directly with one's own eyes. It is often used in contexts where the speaker emphasizes their firsthand experience of an event, making it more personal and impactful.
Frequency#5712DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, firsthand witness accounts are often valued in storytelling and news reporting, as they lend credibility to the narrative. The expression 目睹 implies a deeper level of engagement with the event being described.
Memory Tip
Think of 目 (mù) as 'eye' and 睹 (dǔ) as 'to see.' Imagine an eye witnessing a significant event, like a dramatic scene in a movie, making it unforgettable. This visual connection helps you remember the meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 目睹
mùdǔ(mu4du3)
1to witness
2to see at first hand
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 目睹
目睹Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#5712Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 目睹
Podcast: 目睹
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AI Study Notes for 目睹
Quick Contrast
目击 (mùjī) - use 目睹 when emphasizing personal firsthand experience, while 目击 is more neutral and can refer to witnessing without the same personal implication.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 目 (mù) as 'eye' and 睹 (dǔ) as 'to see.' Imagine an eye witnessing a significant event, like a dramatic scene in a movie, making it unforgettable. This visual connection helps you remember the meaning and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 目睹 with similar verbs like 看到 (kàn dào), which simply means 'to see.' 目睹 carries a stronger connotation of witnessing something significant. It is more commonly used in formal contexts, such as news reports.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 目睹 connects well with other advanced vocabulary related to perception and experience. Focus on using it in complex sentences to describe events you've personally witnessed for better fluency.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, firsthand witness accounts are often valued in storytelling and news reporting, as they lend credibility to the narrative. The expression 目睹 implies a deeper level of engagement with the event being described.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is using 目睹 in contexts where a more casual term like 看到 would suffice, such as saying '我目睹了他的表演' (I witnessed his performance) instead of '我看到了他的表演.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 目睹
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Grammar Patterns of 目睹
目睹 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
我们____了一家人正在收拾家当准备离开的凄惨景象。
We encountered the pathetic sight of a family packing up its home.
Example Sentences for 目睹 (8)
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1
我们目睹了一家人正在收拾家当准备离开的凄惨景象。
wǒ mén mù dǔ le yī jiā rén zhèng zài shōu shí jiā dāng zhǔn bèi lí kāi de qī cǎn jǐng xiàng。
We encountered the pathetic sight of a family packing up its home.
2
这一描述似乎与我们目睹的情况不符。
zhè yī miáo shù sì hū yǔ wǒ mén mù dǔ de qíng kuàng bù fú。
This description didn't seem to tally with what we saw.
3
他觉得在目睹行刑前还要上酒让人很不舒服。
tā jué dé zài mù dǔ háng xíng qián huán yào shàng jiǔ ràng rén hěn bù shū fú。
He found it distasteful to be offered drinks before witnessing the execution.
4
他所目睹的那一幕永久性地影响了他的神智。
tā suǒ mù dǔ de nà yī mù yǒng jiǔ xìng dì yǐng xiǎng le tā de shén zhì。
His reason had been permanently affected by what he had witnessed.
The film contains moments of almost unbearable poignancy.
8
我亲眼目睹这场屠杀,真吓得毛发倒竖.
wǒ qīn yǎn mù dǔ zhè cháng tú shā, , zhēn xià dé máo fā dǎo.
I'm really terrified to witness the slaughter.
Cultural Notes for 目睹
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, firsthand witness accounts are often valued in storytelling and news reporting, as they lend credibility to the narrative. The expression 目睹 implies a deeper level of engagement with the event being described.
Frequently Asked Questions about 目睹
While it's not incorrect, 目睹 is more formal and typically used in written or serious contexts, such as news articles.
目睹 emphasizes witnessing something significant firsthand, while 看到 is a more general term for seeing.
