Word

默默无闻 (mò mò wú wén) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

Meaning of 默默无闻

成语 chéng yǔ idiom

obscure and unknown

这位科学家默默无闻地为社会做出了巨大贡献。

zhè wèi kē xué jiā mò mò wú wén de wèi shè huì zuò chū le jù dà gòng xiàn

This scientist made great contributions to society while remaining obscure and unknown.

Word breakdown

默 mò — silent, quiet

1 幽默 yōu mò — humorous HSK 4
- 幽 contributes the first syllable 'you' of the phonetic transliteration of 'humor'
- 默 contributes the second syllable 'mo' of the phonetic transliteration of 'humor'
Example

他是一个很幽默的人。

tā shì yí ge hěn yōu mò de rén

He is a very humorous person.
2 沉默 chén mò — to be silent HSK 5
- 沉 deep, profound (quality of the silence)
- 默 silent, quiet, not speaking
Example

面对质疑，她选择沉默。

miàn duì zhì yí tā xuǎn zé chén mò

Faced with doubts, she chose to remain silent.
3 默默 mò mò — silently HSK 6
- 默 silent, quiet (core meaning)
- 默 repetition for emphasis and adverbial formation
Example

妈妈默默地为我们付出。

mā ma mò mò de wèi wǒ men fù chū

Mother silently sacrifices for us.
4 潜移默化 qián yí mò huà — to influence gradually and imperceptibly HSK 7
- 潜 hidden, imperceptible
- 移 to shift, gradual change
- 默 silent, unnoticed
- 化 to transform, to influence
Example

父母的行为会潜移默化地影响孩子的性格。

fù mǔ de xíng wéi huì qián yí mò huà de yǐng xiǎng hái zi de xìng gé

Parents' behavior will imperceptibly influence their children's character.
5 默契 mò qì — tacit understanding HSK 7
- 默 silent, tacit, unspoken
- 契 agreement, accord, harmony
Example

他们配合得很默契。

tā men pèi hé de hěn mò qì

They cooperate with great tacit understanding.

默 mò — silent, quiet (repetition for emphasis)

1 幽默 yōu mò — humorous HSK 4
- 幽 contributes the first syllable 'you' of the phonetic transliteration of 'humor'
- 默 contributes the second syllable 'mo' of the phonetic transliteration of 'humor'
Example

他是一个很幽默的人。

tā shì yí ge hěn yōu mò de rén

He is a very humorous person.
2 沉默 chén mò — to be silent HSK 5
- 沉 deep, profound (quality of the silence)
- 默 silent, quiet, not speaking
Example

面对质疑，她选择沉默。

miàn duì zhì yí tā xuǎn zé chén mò

Faced with doubts, she chose to remain silent.
3 默默 mò mò — silently HSK 6
- 默 silent, quiet (core meaning)
- 默 repetition for emphasis and adverbial formation
Example

妈妈默默地为我们付出。

mā ma mò mò de wèi wǒ men fù chū

Mother silently sacrifices for us.
4 潜移默化 qián yí mò huà — to influence gradually and imperceptibly HSK 7
- 潜 hidden, imperceptible
- 移 to shift, gradual change
- 默 silent, unnoticed
- 化 to transform, to influence
Example

父母的行为会潜移默化地影响孩子的性格。

fù mǔ de xíng wéi huì qián yí mò huà de yǐng xiǎng hái zi de xìng gé

Parents' behavior will imperceptibly influence their children's character.
5 默契 mò qì — tacit understanding HSK 7
- 默 silent, tacit, unspoken
- 契 agreement, accord, harmony
Example

他们配合得很默契。

tā men pèi hé de hěn mò qì

They cooperate with great tacit understanding.

无 wú — without, not have

闻 wén — heard of, known, fame

Structure & writing

1 默 mò — to be silent, make no sound (reduplicated)

默 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

1.1 黑 hēi — black (color, opposite of white)

黑 is a component in 3 characters

HSK 4

默 mò to be silent, make no sound (reduplicated)

HSK 6

嘿 hēi hey (greeting or to get attention)

HSK 7

墨 mò ink stick (made from soot or pine smoke); also the liquid ink made by grinding it with water

1.2 犬 quǎn — dog

犬 is a component in 14 characters

HSK 2

然 rán (lit.) correct; right

HSK 3

哭 kū to cry; to weep from pain, grief, or strong emotion 突 tū chimney or smoke outlet beside an ancient stove

HSK 4

厌 yàn to dislike; to detest; to be fed up with 获 huò to capture; to seize 默 mò to be silent, make no sound (reduplicated)

HSK 5

器 qì utensils; implements; vessels 状 zhuàng shape; form; state 献 xiàn to offer or present respectfully and solemnly 臭 chòu foul-smelling; stinking (opposite of 香)

HSK 7

伏 fú to lean forward onto something; to lie face down, prostrate 狱 yù prison; jail 莽 mǎng dense, thick grass 飙 biāo (lit.) violent windstorm

Stroke order

2 默 mò — to be silent, make no sound (reduplicated)

默 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

2.1 黑 hēi — black (color, opposite of white)

黑 is a component in 3 characters

HSK 4

默 mò to be silent, make no sound (reduplicated)

HSK 6

嘿 hēi hey (greeting or to get attention)

HSK 7

墨 mò ink stick (made from soot or pine smoke); also the liquid ink made by grinding it with water

2.2 犬 quǎn — dog

犬 is a component in 14 characters

HSK 2

然 rán (lit.) correct; right

HSK 3

哭 kū to cry; to weep from pain, grief, or strong emotion 突 tū chimney or smoke outlet beside an ancient stove

HSK 4

厌 yàn to dislike; to detest; to be fed up with 获 huò to capture; to seize 默 mò to be silent, make no sound (reduplicated)

HSK 5

器 qì utensils; implements; vessels 状 zhuàng shape; form; state 献 xiàn to offer or present respectfully and solemnly 臭 chòu foul-smelling; stinking (opposite of 香)

HSK 7

伏 fú to lean forward onto something; to lie face down, prostrate 狱 yù prison; jail 莽 mǎng dense, thick grass 飙 biāo (lit.) violent windstorm

Stroke order

3 无 wú — to not have, opposite of "有"

无 is a component in 1 characters

HSK 7

抚 fǔ to stroke gently

无 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order

4 闻 wén — to hear

闻 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

4.1 门 mén — door; gate; entrance of a building, vehicle, vessel, aircraft, or courtyard, also the barrier installed at such an entrance that can be opened and closed

门 is a component in 21 characters

HSK 1

们 men suffix added to pronouns or nouns referring to people to indicate plural 问 wèn to ask a question about something unknown or unclear 间 jiān between; the space where two periods of time or things meet

HSK 3

闻 wén to hear

HSK 4

闹 nào noisy; tumultuous (opposite of 'quiet') 阅 yuè to read; to look over

HSK 5

润 rùn to moisten; to add oil or water to prevent dryness 闭 bì to close; to shut 闲 xián free; unoccupied; idle (opposite of 'busy')

HSK 6

闪 shǎn to dodge aside quickly 闯 chuǎng to rush forward boldly; to charge 阔 kuò wide; broad; vast in area

HSK 7