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Kotomora

摸

search, imitate, copy

Strokes13

Readings

On'yomi

  • モ
  • モウ
  • バク
  • ボ
  • マク

Kun'yomi

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Meaning

摸 centers on using one's hands to explore or reproduce something: searching by touch, imitating a form, or copying a pattern.

Most common words using 摸

  • 自摸ツモ

    drawing a tile from the wall

  • 摸牌モーパイ

    identifying a piece by touch

  • 自摸和ツモホー

    winning off a self-drawn tile

  • 門前清自摸和メンゼンチンツモホー

    winning off a self-drawn tile while completely concealed (meld); winning off a self-drawn tile without having called any tiles

Explore all words using 摸 →

Study

Etymology

摸 combines 扌 (hand) with 莫, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to the idea of searching or copying by hand. The exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The hand radical 扌 beside 莫 suggests a hand feeling around in the dark (莫 can suggest darkness or obscurity). Picture groping with your hands to search, then imitating what you find.

Reading mnemonic

For モ, imagine your hand searching for a morsel of food in the dark: morsel -> モ, and your hand copies the motion of picking it up.