Word

默默 (mò mò) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 6

Meaning of 默默

副 fù adverb

silently

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.

Word breakdown

默 mò — silent, quiet (core meaning)

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 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.
4 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.
5 默默无闻 mò mò wú wén — obscure and unknown HSK 7
- 默 silent, quiet
- 默 silent, quiet (repetition for emphasis)
- 无 without, not have
- 闻 heard of, known, fame
Example

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.

默 mò — repetition for emphasis and adverbial formation

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 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.
4 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.
5 默默无闻 mò mò wú wén — obscure and unknown HSK 7
- 默 silent, quiet
- 默 silent, quiet (repetition for emphasis)
- 无 without, not have
- 闻 heard of, known, fame
Example

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.